DuPont, Dow AgroSciences agree to cross license next-generation soybean herbicide tolerant traits

DuPont and Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: Dow), announced they have entered into a commercial cross-licensing agreement that will enable the two companies to deliver expanded herbicide-tolerant soybean options to farmers in the next decade.

Under the agreement, Dow AgroSciences is licensing non-exclusively its proprietary herbicide tolerant trait technology for soybeans to DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred. In addition, Pioneer is licensing non-exclusively its proprietary Optimum® GAT® trait for soybeans to Dow AgroSciences. Both companies have given the other rights to stack additional traits with their respective technology. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

"This agreement gives us a new weed control option to help our customers meet their individual needs,” said Paul E. Schickler, president -- Pioneer. “Being able to offer farmers specific solutions to weed control is a key part of our Right Product. Right AcreSM strategy.”

Dow AgroSciences expects to submit herbicide-tolerant trait technology data to U.S. regulatory agencies this year. Dow AgroSciences anticipates commercialization early in the next decade pending regulatory authorizations.

"We are excited about the results of our investment in this next generation of technology in soybeans,” said Antonio Galindez, president and CEO -- Dow AgroSciences. "Our new herbicide-tolerant trait technology, in association with other leading weed control systems, offers growers the additional choices, unsurpassed flexibility, convenience and value that contribute to enhanced performance.”

The new herbicide-tolerant trait technology allows growers to continue farming the way they want, but with improved weed control capabilities and performance. The system is designed to provide excellent control of glyphosate-resistant and other hard-to-control broadleaf weeds like morning glory, pigweeds including palmer amaranth, lambsquarters, marestail, waterhemp, giant and common ragweed, and velvetleaf. In anticipation of regulatory approvals for its herbicide-tolerant trait technology, Dow AgroSciences is developing new and improved herbicide solutions based on the proven, trusted 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid technology growers have used successfully for more than 60 years.

When stacked together, the Optimum® GAT® trait from Pioneer and the new herbicide-tolerant trait technology being developed by Dow AgroSciences would produce soybeans that are tolerant to 2,4-D, glyphosate and ALS herbicides. The Optimum® GAT® trait from Pioneer provides tolerance to glyphosate and the ALS class of herbicides. Optimum® GAT® soybeans have received U.S. regulatory approvals and a 2011 introduction is anticipated upon regulatory approvals in key importing countries. DuPont also anticipates the introduction of five new ALS-based herbicide products for Optimum® GAT® crops, including DuPont™ Freestyle™, Trigate™, Traverse™, Instigate™, and Diligent™ herbicides, upon U.S. and state approvals.