Monsanto confirms validity of the RR soybean patent in Paraguay until 2014

The multinational company, Monsanto, issued a statement confirming the validity of the patents on the technology present in Roundup Ready (RR) soybean, until 27 May 2014. The statement was issued in response to the farmers’ refusal to continue paying royalties to the company.
 
The statement was released by the firm’s regional representative, agronomist, Francisco Fracchia. He claimed that the royalties’ collection system for the technology in RR Soybean has been used in the country since 2005. He added that this was achieved by building up consensus with all soybean players in the Paraguayan sector, based on the validity of patents throughout different parts of the world. “Open dialogue is part of Monsanto essence and track record, and shall, as we have duly stated, remain unaltered”, said Fracchia.

He stated that the royalties system has played a crucial role to help promote new investments within the soybean industry. “The system has allowed industry players, including Monsanto, to develop and introduce new technologies in the region. Likewise, it has guaranteed that the value created by these new products benefits producers and different players within the chain”, he said.