Monsanto & Dole Team up on Vegetable Breeding
The Co-Operator - submitted by Dave Bedard - 6/23/2009 Broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce and spinach breeding will soon include a new player as U.S. seed and agriculture chemical firm Monsanto hooks up with Dole Fresh Vegetables for a five-year collaboration deal. Photo courtesy of Getty Images. Plant breeding will be used to improve the "nutrition, flavour, colour, texture, taste and aroma of these vegetables," the two companies said in a joint release Tuesday. The program will focus on those four specific vegetables, the companies said, and "any new products realized from this collaboration could be commercialized by Dole in North America." "The consumer wins because Dole's market knowledge combined with our research and development capabilities will help bring new healthy and flavourful products to consumers," said David Stark, vice-president of consumer traits at St. Louis-based Monsanto, in the release. Monsanto said its "agric