Monsanto, AgraQuest Partner For New Seed Treatments

Posted by Christina Herrick|September 14, 2010

Monsanto Co. and AgraQuest Inc. have entered into a collaboration to evaluate the potential use of AgraQuest’s pipeline of biopesticide leads to develop seed treatments for Monsanto’s core crops and vegetables.

The three-year deal is aimed at developing seed treatment products to control nematodes, disease and insects, and embrace plant growth and yield, using AgraQuest’s collection of microbes. This technology could help Monsanto researchers develop additional modes of action for insect, nematode, and disease control.

“We are excited to partner with a proven leader in agriculture like Monsanto,” said AgraQuest’s CEO, Marcus Meadows-Smith. “We believe our research in the field of biopesticide alternatives for pest and stress management will complement Monsanto’s work in helping farmers protect the yield potential of their farms by offering them better pest-control and plant health options.”

Any commercial product developed from this collaboration will complement Monsanto’s Acceleron seed treatment product portfolio. Monsanto currently offers Acceleron seed treatment products for corn and soybeans and a seed treatment for cotton is expected in 2011.

Monsanto will have exclusive rights to the technology for seed treatments in its core crops and vegetables. AgraQuest will retain all rights to the technology for foliar – to be sprayed on top of plants – and soil application uses, and for use as seed treatments for all other crops. Under the agreement AgraQuest will receive an upfront payment and research funding, as well as performance-based payments and royalties. Additonal details about the agreement were not disclosed.