April 9, 2008

Monsanto in corn seed treatment agreement with Bayer CropScience
 

Monsanto Co. has reached an exclusive agreement with Bayer CropScience LP on a new fungicide seed treatment for corn.

Under the terms of the agreement, Monsanto, a St. Louis biotechnology company, will have exclusive rights to commercialize the seed treatment under its corn brand Dekalb and the regional brands of American Seeds Inc.

Monsanto said it will license the product through its licensing business.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Monsanto expects to market the treatment in conjunction with the launch of the company's SmartStax seed offering in 2010.

Monsanto said the treatment provides corn farmers with improved early-season protection against seedling diseases and insects.

Monsanto said the treatment is based on the Bayer CropScience product Vortex, another disease-control product for corn seed.