Exosect sues Bayer over seed coating technology

UK company Exosect Ltd, a leading provider of enabling technologies, has commenced legal proceedings against Bayer CropScience Inc. for infringement of its Canadian patent (CA2861526), granted on 3rd February 2015.

The patent relates to, among other things, the use of synthetic waxes, such as polyethylene wax, as a lubricant/fluency agent to improve the flowability of plant seeds and reduce the risk of dust drift. This technology brings forward significant improvements in seed flow lubricants.

In Canada, the majority of corn and soybean crops use a neonicotinoid insecticide seed treatment. Such treated seeds must be applied using seed flow lubricants such as those in the Exosect patent, which replace talc and graphite. Talc and graphite are no longer permitted because they were found to detach easily from the seed to create insecticide-containing dust.

This legal action has potential implications for the broader supply chain as such uses of the product in question may infringe the patent.