Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences (DAS).

Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences (DAS) announce a cross-licensing agreement aimed at launching SmartStax, the industry's first-ever eight-gene stacked combination in corn.

The companies expect to have Smart Stax hybrids available for sale following regulatory approval that is expected by the end of the decade. The product will include the companies' respective above- and below-ground insect protection systems, including Dow AgroSciences' Herculex I and Herculex RW technologies; Monsanto's YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2 and YieldGard VT PRO technologies; and the two established weed control systems, Roundup Ready and Liberty Link.

SmartStax will be available in Monsanto's branded seed corn including Dekalb and Asgrow, its corn states customers, and Dow's Mycogen brand. It will be sold and serviced by each of the companies' sales forces.

SmartStax will only be available containing the eight traits. That is, customers will not be allowed to "pick and choose" the traits. The companies will continue to market the traits they own and license from others.