Dow Agro And Rhone-Poulenc To Collaborate On Crop Modification

Dow AgroSciences LLC and Rhone-Poulenc Agro are to collaborate on developing genetically modified plants and seed products containing multiple traits. The research alliance will initially concentrate on modifying six crops; corn, canola, soybeans, sunflower, sugarcane and cotton.

The companies' letter of intent states that the crops will be modified using proteins developed by Dow AgroSciences for insect resistance and Rhone-Poulenc Agro's gene sequences for herbicide tolerance, including glyphosate, bromoxynil and isoxazoles.

"The market is more than ready for a new wave of insect resistant, herbicide tolerant plants," said Nick Hein, vice president of Biotechnology, Dow AgroSciences. "This proposed agreement allows both Dow AgroSciences and Rhone-Poulenc Agro to build on our strengths, permitting both companies to work together to create new plant products that improve production efficiency and increase the value of crops."

For more information: Christine Kirby, Dow AgroSciences, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268-1054. Telephone: 317-337-4807; or Georges Santini of Rhone-Poulenc Agro (France), 33-4-72-85-25-50; or Rick Rountree of Rhone-Poulenc Agro (USA), 919-549-2310.