Bayer CropScience, Syngenta sign global licensing agreement for cotton technology

Bayer CropScience and Syngenta have entered into a long-term business agreement relating to a key plant biotechnology trait.

Under the agreement, Syngenta has granted Bayer CropScience a worldwide, non-exclusive license for use of Vipcot insect control technology in cotton.

The Vipcot technology encompasses two insecticidal proteins that are highly effective against a number of important cotton pests including cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa zea) and tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens).

The addition of Vipcot will complement Bayer's existing portfolio of cotton solutions, which include high-performance cotton seed brands FiberMax, Stoneville and Surpass, and technologies including LibertyLink and GlyTol herbicide-tolerance and TwinLink insect resistance.

Joachim Schneider, head, BioScience business unit, Bayer CropScience, says, ''Bayer is committed to being a leader in bringing innovative cotton solutions to farmers that help them tackle tough agronomic challenges and become more productive and profitable.

''We have one of the most robust cotton technology pipelines in the business, and we are pleased to be working with Syngenta to advance yet another insect control technology offering to benefit cotton farmers worldwide.''

Davor Pisk, chief operating officer of Syngenta Seeds, said, ''This agreement further demonstrates the innovation that Syngenta is delivering in biotechnology. Vipcot contains the same gene as Agrisure Viptera, to be launched by Syngenta in the US corn market later this year.

The agreement with Bayer CropScience means that cotton growers will also see an expansion of the technology options available to them.''