Syngenta, Dow AgroSciences sign cotton technology licensing agreements

According to a press release statement, Syngenta has granted Dow AgroSciences licenses to a number of VipCot™ cotton varieties, as well as access to its COT102 cotton transgenic event. Under the terms of the agreement, Dow AgroSciences will receive a global license to develop and commercialize stacked combinations of Syngenta''s COT102 transgenic event with Dow AgroSciences'' traits. The COT102 event contains Vip3A, a novel vegetative insecticidal protein that is structurally different to insect traits currently on the market and has a distinct mode of action, which is an important tool for insect resistance management. The Vip3A technology will also be sold by Syngenta and its licensees in corn as the Agrisure Viptera™ trait, pending receipt of all remaining regulatory approvals. Dow AgroSciences will also receive a license to a number of VipCot cotton varieties, stacked with glyphosate tolerance, for sale in the United States under its PhytoGen® cottonseed brand. Pending regulatory approvals, these varieties are expected to be launched in 2012 and will offer cotton growers protection against key cotton pests such as cotton bollworm (Helioverpa zea), tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens) and armyworms (Spodoptera). Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.