BUSINESS: Syngenta, Delta and Pine to Work on Cotton

BASEL, Switzerland - Swiss biotechnology firm Syngenta AG said Tuesday it has agreed to work with U.S.-based Delta and Pine Land Co. to develop and commercialize insect-resistant cotton.

The Swiss company said it will grant Delta and Pine licenses to the gene technology it has developed to protect cotton. In return, it will receive payments for the licenses and a share of grower technology fees. Syngenta did not give further financial details.

Delta and Pine, based in Scott, Miss., is a commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed.
"This agreement with the market leader in cotton seeds will enable Syngenta to commercialize its portfolio of cotton traits," said David Jones, Syngenta's business development chief, in a statement.

Earlier this year, Syngenta dropped a lawsuit claiming Monsanto Co., based in St. Louis, infringed on its patent for a technique to make cotton using biotechnology. As part of the settlement, the companies agreed to provide each other with royalty-free, non-exclusive licenses related to the development, use and sale of crops containing agricultural technologies aimed at insect protection and herbicide-tolerance.

Copyright: The Associated Press