DuPont/Syngenta.

This new era actually got rolling in February 2006, when DuPont's Pioneer Hi-Bred unit announced it would, for the first time ever, license its genetic lines to other seed companies. It was an unheard-of practice from a company that prided itself, and sold aggressively that its seed was from proprietary lines that were available only from their organization.

When asked how the company was planning to market their genetics, they said "we are working on it."

Were they ever. Two months later, DuPont announced it had entered a joint venture with Syngenta, forming Greenleaf Genetics LLC, which offers corn and soybean breeding material from both DuPont and Syngenta. It also facilitates the licensing of biotech traits by both companies.

Lynn Henderson

Publisher