Syngenta, Monsanto Forge Major Corn/Soy Agreement

Matt Hopkins Posted by Matt Hopkins|27 May 2008

Syngenta and Monsanto have announced the completion of a definitive agreement to settle all outstanding litigation involving the companies’ corn and soybean businesses, and to an extent, to share technologies.

Terms of the agreement include:

  • Monsanto receives a royalty-bearing license to Syngenta’s enabling technology for dicamba herbicide tolerance.
  • Syngenta receives more favorable marketing conditions relating to its Bt11 trait for European corn borer control.
  • Monsanto and Syngenta agree to settle all patent, antitrust, and commercial litigation between the companies and their subsidiaries, which include Syngenta’s antitrust action against Monsanto; all infringement cases on herbicide-tolerant and insect-protected corn technologies; and a dispute between herbicide-tolerant soybean technology.
  • Syngenta receives a royalty-bearing license to Monsanto’s Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean technology.
  • Monsanto and Syngenta agree to cross-enable each other to develop and deliver innovative herbicide-tolerant and Bt insect-protection products in corn, cotton, and soybeans.

Davor Pisk, Chief Operating Officer of Syngenta Seeds, said, “The need to increase agricultural productivity has never been greater than it is today. We are therefore very pleased to have reached an agreement which expands the choices available across the US corn and soybean markets.”