EU patent for genetically modified soybeans revoked

Hecate submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (www.nature.com)

Thirteen years ago, an agricultural company called Monsanto patented its "recipe" for genetically modified soybeans. This week, said patent was rejected by the European Patent Office, citing lack of novelty. The patent was actually for a means of creating any kind of genetically modified soybean, not just a particular strain. Opponents of the patent claimed that it gave Monsato "de facto control over all modified soybeans." The debate brought forward such motley allies as Syngenta, Greenpeace and Canada's ETC.

Keywords: agricultural agriculture genetically modified organisms soybeans GMO patents environmentalism environmentalists