Syngenta, DuPont Call A Truce

DuPont and Syngenta have struck an agreement that settles infringement claims between the seed businesses of the two companies.

According to a statement from Syngenta, the resolution settles a claim brought against Pioneer, a subsidiary of DuPont, in a 2002 patent infringement lawsuit involving Pioneer, Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences and Mycogen, a wholly owned affiliate of Dow AgroSciences.

Under the agreement, Pioneer receives a commercial license to Syngenta patents relating to Herculex(1) and YieldGard(2) insect resistant corn traits.

The companies also settled claims Pioneer brought against Syngenta in 2002. Pioneer had asserted that Syngenta inappropriately acquired Pioneer proprietary genetic material 15 years ago through a practice known as "chasing selfs." Syngenta has since terminated the practice.

"We are pleased to have reached this agreement which recognizes the value of our intellectual property rights," says David Jones, Head of Business Development at Syngenta.

"This agreement is good news for farmers," says Dean Oestreich, Pioneer President. "It helps ensure we'll continue to bring the new agricultural technologies that farmers want in the seed brand they prefer to plant, while confirming the importance of germplasm intellectual property protection."

Syngenta's ongoing lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to stop Monsanto, Dow and Mycogen from selling Herculex and YieldGard insect resistant corn traits. Trial in this lawsuit begins Monday( in US District Court in Delaware.