Genetic Engineering

A new method of creating genetically modified plants could threaten the monopoly of the big biotech companies, such as Monsanto and Syngenta.. Researchers at the Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia, have modified three bacteria other than Agrobacterium for insertion of foreign genes into plants. Agrobacterium is the bacterium of the patents held so far. The new technology does not infringe the Agrobacterium patents and will be made available for use under the Biological Innovation for Open Society licence. A spokesman for Syngenta is reported to have said that Syngenta welcomes innovation in this area and new tools becoming available for the benefit of less developed countries.