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The companies have agreed to a cross-licensing deal that will launch the first eight-gene stacked combination in corn.

September 14, 2007

1 Min Read

Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences will develop a seed that offers eight different genes for herbicide tolerance and insect-protection. Called SmartStax, it will have Dow's Herculex I and Herculex RW along with Monsanto's YieldGuard VT Rootworm/RR2 and YieldGuard VT PRO, plus RoundUp Ready and Liberty Link weed control systems.

"By bringing together the two companies that have developed and commercialized the trait technologies widely used in agriculture today, we can provide farmers an 'all-in-one' answer to demands for comprehensive yield protection from weed and insect threats," says Carl Casale, executive vice president of strategy and operations for Monsanto.
The agreement will expand growth of Monsanto's seeds and traits business while pushing forward Dow's plans to build a leading seed and biotechnology platform.
"The combination of these trait technologies signals the start of the next generation of products with improved plant protection and yield increases for the farmer," says Jerome Peribere, president and CEO of Dow AgroSciences.
Results of collaborative tests on the feasibility of integrating the different genes are on on target. Regulatory submissions will be prepared from the tests and it is the goal of the companies to have SmartStax available commercially to farmers by 2010.

For detailed information about SmartStax and the agreement, check out presentations online at www.monsanto.com/investors or www.dow.com/financial/.


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