By AP/KWMU
St. Louis – St. Louis-based Monsanto says it has won an eight-year patent dispute against a subsidiary of Dow Chemical.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled Monday that Monsanto scientists were the first to invent the technology for synthetic Bt genes in plants. Monsanto says that ends a dispute with Mycogen Seeds, now a unit of Dow Agro-Sciences.
Bt is a natural bacterium present in soil that is an effective insect-control agent, long well-known to regulators, farmers and organic gardeners.
Crops containing Monsanto's synthetic Bt gene are protected against certain insects but are harmless to birds and humans.
Dow Agro-Sciences says it is disappointed by the patent ruling, and that it was exploring its legal options.