NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Monsanto said today that it will collaborate with China's Huazhong Agricultural University to develop novel traits that could increase yield, drought resistance, and nitrogen efficiency in crop plants.
Under the agreement, Monsanto will evaluate and advance certain technologies developed by Professor Qifa Zhang at Huazhong, which is located in Wuhan.
Monsanto also has established a scholarship program at the university for undergraduate students studying plant biotechnology, plant breeding, plant protection, horticulture, and other agricultural areas. It has awarded the scholarship to 25 students for this year.
"Collaborations such as this allow Monsanto to help agriculture meet the challenges of providing food, fuel and fiber for a growing world population," Monsanto VP of Biotechnology Steve Padgette said in a statement.
Financial terms of the agreement were not released.