April 17, 2009

European Patent Office will assemble an expert panel to assess objections received to a patent filed for a genetic pig breeding technique, the BBC reports on its Web site Thursday (April 16).

EPO spokesman Rainer Osterwalder said the patent, filed in 2005 by US bioscience giant Monsanto Inc. (MON) but since sold onto unlisted US company Newsham Genetics, covers a breeding process that relies on a genetic marker for selecting pigs that fatten quickly and produce juicier meat.

Around 20 objections have been received, Osterwalder said.

Osterwalder told the BBC the patent related only to the firm's scientific method, but not the pig itself, the gene sequence or the kit used for selection.