In February 2014, the European Patent Office (EPO) granted a patent to Monsanto (Bayer) on screening and selecting soybean plants adapted to certain climate zones (EP2134870). The plants supposedly have higher yields in different environmental conditions. The soybeans concerned are wild and cultivated species from Asia and Australia. According to the patent, more than 250 plants from “exotic” species were screened for variations in climate adaption potential and variations in the period of time needed for the beans to mature. Monsanto has thereby gained a monopoly on the future usage of hundreds of natural DNA sequence variations in the conventional breeding of soybeans. In 2017, oppositions filed with the support of NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! were rejected. NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! filed an appeal. A hearing took place on 29 October 2024. The EPO rejected the appeal, the patent is maintained. No further action can be taken against this patent.
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Media reports
12.08.2024 - BioEcoActual (EN): Can you invent soybeans? Patents threaten access to seeds
12.08.2024 - BioEcoActual (ES): ¿Puedes inventar la soja? Las patentes amenazan el acceso a las semillas
12.08.2024 - BioEcoActual (CAT): Pots inventar la soja? Les patents amenacen l’accés a les llavors
