DuPont said on Feb. 17 that its agricultural unit had formed an alliance in sub-Saharan Africa to collaborate on development of higher-yielding maize varieties that need less fertilizer. DuPont’s Pioneer Hi-Bred unit will contribute gene technology in work led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and funded with $19.5 million in grants
DuPont Collaborates On Biotech Maize For Africa
Report Says Biotech Wheat Will Damage Wheat Prices
“Some in the wheat industry seem intent on pushing genetically modified wheat.” – TODD LEAKE U. S. wheat prices could fall by 40 per cent or more if industry efforts to develop a biotech wheat succeed, according to an industry report issued Jan. 27. The report, issued by the Western Organization of Resource Councils, a
Monsanto Claims Victory In Seed Fight
Monsanto Co. said Jan. 19 a Federal Court had ruled in its favour in a bitter dispute with key rival DuPont, finding DuPont had violated a licensing agreement in trying to combine certain genetic seed traits developed by Monsanto with its own. DuPont officials said the court decision was “narrow” allowing them to continue to
Monsanto Says Justice Officials Want Seed Access Details
Monsanto Co. said Jan. 14 that the U. S. Department of Justice has issued a civil investigative demand for information on the company’s key soybean traits business after complaints that Monsanto was trying to limit access to push a new, pricier product instead. Monsanto said it was cooperating with the department and reiterated that it
DuPont Urges Curbs On Monsanto
DuPont has asked U. S. regulators to rein in practices by seed industry leader Monsanto Co., claiming its rival is hindering competition and limiting innovation needed to feed a growing world population. DuPont, which owns Pioneer Hi-Bred International, said Jan. 8 Monsanto is unfairly using monopoly powers to drive up prices and stymie competition. “Monsanto
Brewing Antitrust Fight In Seed
Key players in the U. S. seed industry are working to head off an antitrust probe into allegations of unfair competition even as farm groups ratchet up pressure on the government to take action against what they say are escalating prices and constriction of market choice. Fresh concerns about unfair market dominance were raised on
Monsanto To Restructure Roundup Unit
– Monsanto Chairman Hugh Grant “Over the last six years, Monsanto’s business has undergone a dramatic transition from a company historically built on chemical innovations…” Monsanto Co. posted a smaller-than-expected slide in quarterly profit June 24 and said it would cut jobs and realign its Roundup herbicide business as surprisingly strong competition hammered sales. The
Water Worries Cloud Future For U. S. Biofuel
“We really have to ask ourselves, do we want to be driving with renewable fuels or with gasoline made from petroleum resources?” – BRENT ERICKSON, EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT, BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION It’s corn-planting time in the U. S. Plains, and that means Kansas corn farmer Merl “Buck” Rexford is worrying about the weather – and hoping
Weekend Storms Bring Cheer To U. S. Wheat Farmers
Oklahoma wheat farmer Keith Kisling had two words for the late winter snowstorm that swept across the U. S. Plains over the weekend: “Perfect timing.” After an extended run of an extremely dry winter, farmers throughout key winter wheat-growing U. S. states largely welcomed the several inches of snow, ice and rain that hit March
Biotech Giants Battle For Better Corn Seed
Competition is heating up in the lucrative U. S. corn market, as seed industry leaders Monsanto Co. and DuPont Co.’s Pioneer Hi-Bred race to win over farmers with an array of new seed products. For both, corn is king. It is the largest crop grown in the United States, and is a critical component not
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