03/18 11:27 FOCUS-Zeneca, Monsanto settle genetic crop dispute
(Rewrites, adds background)
LONDON, March 18 (Reuters) - Agrochemical giants Zeneca Group
Plc <ZEN.L> and Monsanto Co <MTC.N> settled differences on
Thursday in a battle over the rapidly expanding market for genetically
engineered crop seeds.
British-based Zeneca said it had signed a long-term agreement on
undisclosed terms to develop its Touchdown herbicide for use on or
over the top of Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybeans, corn and
cotton in the U.S.
Under the agreement, Zeneca, once it has obtained U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency registration, will sell Touchdown
herbicide for application on Roundup Ready crops.
The two companies have also agreed to negotiate access to
additional Roundup Ready crops both in the U.S. and to all Roundup
Ready crops worldwide, as they are commercialised.
As a result, Monsanto's Roundup and Zeneca's Touchdown
herbicides will compete with each other in the agriculutral weed
control market.
As part of the deal, Zeneca, Monsanto and Pioneer Hi-Bred
International Inc <PHB.N> have agreed to dismiss the lawsuits they
have pending against each other in Delaware and Missouri.
These relate to the use of Touchdown over Roundup Ready crops
and related Monsanto patents, and to Monsanto's marketing
practices.
Zeneca filed an antitrust suit against Monsanto last July, claiming its
restrictive agreements and incentive programmes for growers,
researchers, and distributors were intended to exclude competitors.
It had argued that Monsanto's patents, set to expire in 2000, were
invalid and unenforceable.
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