DUPONT AND its subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International continue to market their future herbicide tolerance technology to other seed companies. Recently, DuPont announced that it is licensing the Optimum GAT trait for glyphosate and ALS tolerance to Delta and Pine Land Company (D&PL) for use in soybeans, cotton and other crops. D&PL will pay DuPont $20.5 million in the transaction that includes several other products from DuPont. The Optimum GAT trait isn't expected to hit the market until 2009.

This new venture helps D&PL become a “significant customer” for Greenleaf Genetics, a joint venture with Syngenta. Greenleaf Genetics will offer licenses for germplasm and traits to seed companies.