December 24, 2010

Monsanto and Virginia Tech enter wheat breeding deal

Monsanto, the Corporate Agricultural giant, has entered into an agreement with Virginia Tech University in the US to enhance its wheat breeding program.

The deal reportedly would give Monsanto access to the wheat germplasm pool of the University, and in return, give Virginia Tech access to advanced agricultural breeding technologies Monsanto is developing.

Yield-affecting attributes including resistance to Fusarium head blight, known as scab, as well as drought resistance would be the focus of the deal.

The deal, altogether is expected to help leverage investments made by both parties in agricultural research and technologies.