After mass opposition: Syngenta patent on tomatoes revoked
Syngenta still trying to get further patents on plants and food
31 January 2019 / After mass opposition, Syngenta has withdrawn its patent on tomatoes. As a consequence, the European Patent Office (EPO) now has officially revoked patent EP1515600. In its patent Syngenta claimed tomato seeds, plants and fruits as its invention. However, all of these actually originate from crossings with tomato plants discovered in Peru and Chile, and supposedly having a higher vitamin content. The plants are not genetically engineered but are derived from conventional breeding. 65 000 individuals from 59 countries and 32 organisations participated in the opposition.
