ST. LOUIS--Monsanto here will collaborate with IBM to further its genomics research on both plants and human diseases. Building on Monsanto's existing genomics program, scientists from both companies will use IBM's Teiresias pattern discovery algorithm to map the genetic structure of diseases and develop new products.
"This collaboration with IBM Research will add significant new technology tools to our expanding genomics capabilities," commented Patrick Fortune, Monsanto's chief information officer. "We expect to make discoveries that wouldn't be possible using existing analytical tools."
In addition, Monsanto signed a 10-year outsourcing agreement in which IBM Global Services will provide the company with data center management, help desk operations, and support for 8,000 desktop systems. The companies also said they will jointly develop a Solution Center to help implement Enterprise Resource Planning systems for outside clients. "By working with IBM as our provider for certain services, we can concentrate our IT resources on analytical and software needs specific to Monsanto's life sciences operations," Fortune continued. As part of the collaboration, 150 Monsanto IT staff will move to IBM.