SC clears Monsanto's patent for Bt cotton seed, but biotech firms want more

Biotechnology companies had put on hold new patents and technologies in the agricultural sector in the two years since the controversy began

While the Supreme Court validated Monsanto’s patent for genetically modified (Bt) cotton seed, in a landmark judgment on Tuesday, leading biotech companies say the way is still not clear for them to introduce new technologies.

For one, the case is not fully over for Monsanto. A spokesperson of Bayer, which now owns Monsanto, notes: “The Supreme Court (SC) restored the order of the single-judge bench of the Delhi high court which, prima facie, validates our patent (but) has sent it back for full trial by evidence, considering the complexities involved. We feel confident about defending any challenge to our patent by