St. Louis, Mo.-Monsanto Co. has announced the acquisition of gene technology from Evogene Ltd. of Tel Aviv that the two companies say will improve nitrogen use efficiency in corn, soybeans, canola, and cotton. In an agreement with Evogene, Monsanto gains exclusive rights to genes discovered by Evogene that help plants maintain yield with less nitrogen. Monsanto will work to evaluate the use of those genes, along with nitrogen utilization genes already in testing. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “Improving nitrogen use efficiency in crops has immense value, not only for farmers but also for our environment,” said Fred Below, professor of crop physiology at the University of Illinois. “These improvements provide the greatest opportunity for increased profitability, while also offering a new way to reduce the environmental impact of corn production.” Steve Padgette, Monsanto vice president of biotechnology, added, “Monsanto is continually innovating new technologies to help farmers get more out of every seed and to do more with less, including maximizing the nitrogen efficiency of crops. We look forward to working with Evogene to continue delivering valuable products to farmers’ fields that reduce agriculture’s impact on the environment.”
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