INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Dow Chemical Co.'s Indianapolis-based agricultural division says it has taken the next step toward gaining international patent rights for its new strain of genetically engineered corn that it says will help farmers battle a new strain of "super-weeds."
The Midland, Mich.-based company said Tuesday it published its patent application with the World Intellectual Property Organization. That's the first step toward securing its patent rights in countries around the world. If the patents are secured, it would give Dow a pathway to sell its corn seed in global markets.
The vast majority of genetically engineered crops on the market are resistant to Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, or its generic equivalent called glyphosate.