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AG BIOTECH: Monsanto gains rights to Evogene genes
St. Louis Business Journal
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 - 9:42 AM CDT

Under an agreement announced Tuesday between Monsanto Co. and Israel-based Evogene Ltd., Monsanto gains exclusive rights to genes discovered by Evogene to work on improving nitrogen efficiency in corn, soybeans, canola and cotton. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Evogene genes help plants maintain yield using less nitrogen. Those genes are complementary to the nitrogen utilization genes that Monsanto is currently testing.

Improving nitrogen efficiency will not only benefit the environment but will also help reduce costs associated with nitrogen fertilizer, Fred Below, professor of crop physiology at the University of Illinois, said in a statement. Nitrogen fertilizer accounts for about 20 percent of the operating costs for a corn producer.

"These improvements provide the greatest opportunity for increased profitability, while also offering a new way to reduce the environmental impact of corn production," Below said.

St. Louis-based Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) develops insect- and herbicide-resistant crops and other agricultural products.

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2007/09/24/daily11.html