Monsanto partners with Chromatin Inc.

Monsanto partners with Chromatin Inc.

	Published : Tue, 22 May 2007 18:26 By : Agencies Print this Story

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Monsanto Co. announced a research partnership Tuesday with biotech company Chromatin Inc. that aims to increase the number of modified genes Monsanto can insert into commodity crops like corn and soybeans.

As the biggest producer of genetically engineered seed, St. Louis-based Monsanto is increasingly focused on producing so-called 'stacked' crops that have multiple patented genes. Instead of just producing its own pesticide, for example, a stacked corn seen could also tolerate Roundup herbicide and be resistant to drought conditions.

'We want farmers to have access to all of our new traits in the best available germplasm -- along with the weed and insect protection they enjoy today,' Monsanto Chief Technology Officer Robert Fraley said in a statement. 'By coupling Chromatin's unique technology with our in-house resources, we believe we'll be able to deliver these high-value trait stacks faster and more efficiently.'

Neither company immediately returned phone calls seeking comment.

Chicago-based Chromatin is a privately-held company that specializes in using mini-chromosomes to incorporate engineered traits into a plant.

The companies said Monsanto will not have exclusive rights to Chromatin's technology. The three-year research partnership can be extended if necessary. Chromatin retained the right to license to other companies during the partnership.

The companies did not disclose financial arrangements.

Monsanto announced a similar research partnership in March with BASF AG, the world's largest chemical company based in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Monsanto and BASF agreed to share proprietary research to help develop new genetic traits more quickly. In that arrangement, Monsanto is allowed to keep 60 percent of all profits from new products while BASF would get 40 percent.

While Monsanto's partnership with Chromatin isn't designed to develop new traits, it might help Monsanto weave any new traits into a plant's existing DNA more quickly and more cheaply than it can now, according to the companies.