Bayer AG.

Bayer AG is awarded exclusive patent rights on a plant parasite technology developed by the Max Planck Society. Bayer said the technology, which is the basis for all genetically modified plant production, is based in the plant parasite agrobacterium, which can cause tumor development in plants. Monsanto Co. developed a similar technology, but the U.S. Patent Office recently decided Monsanto's patent interfered with that of the Max Planck Society. The patent will now be the dominant patent in relation to the production of transgenic plants.