Monsanto to Release Roundup Ready Trait
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Roundup Ready genetically-modified soybeans are turning 18 soon, and retiring before it ever goes to college. The first generation trait is being made available to universities and other researchers royalty-free, according to Monsanto.
The patent on the trait expires at the end of the 2014 planting season. At the beginning of the 2015 planting season, Monsanto will be making the technology publicly available, meaning that farmers will be able to save RR1 patented varieties to use on their own farms after the expiration of the patent. (Monsanto notes: “ “It’s important to know that farmers cannot save seed until after the 2014 planting season and farmers will need to check with their seed suppliers regarding varieties developed and owned by other companies.”)
The trait was introduced by Monsanto in 1996 and quickly drew a lot of interest. The company sold the Roundup Ready soybean trait in its own seeds, and also licensed it out to around 200 independently-owned seed companies, allowing them to integrate it into their own products.
Since then, Monsanto has been working on transitioning its soybean seed products to a newer technology called Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield (called RR2Y). The new technology is higher-yielding and is also licensed out to independent companies. All future soybean traits that are developed by the GM giant will use the new RR2Y trait as their platform.
Monsanto has declared that it will be releasing the RR1 technology for public use in 2015 in the midst of wide scrutiny for the company’s patent rights. The RR1 genetic trait is found in more than 90 per cent of soybean crops in the U.S., including seed developed by Monsanto’s competitors. The company’s monopoly is being investigated in the U.S. by the Department of Justice. According to Monsanto’s Chief Deputy General Counsel, Scott Partridge, the company has willingly cooperated with regulators and will continue to do so: “We respect the thorough regulatory process. We believe our business practices are fair, pro-competitive and in compliance with the law.”
“Given the pace and scale of agriculture biotechnology adoption, as well as the expiration of the Roundup Ready soybean patents in 2014, we understand why regulators would want to know more about competition in modern agriculture and how products are commercialized and used. We believe an objective review will show our business and our industry to be competitive.”
