US-based agricultural solutions specialist Monsanto has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Dole Fresh Vegetables to develop new, more attractive products to enhance consumers' purchasing choices.
The collaboration, which will last for an initial five-year period, will focus on breeding broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce and spinach, with the aim of improving nutritional content, flavour, colour, texture, taste and aroma.
'The consumer wins because Dole's market knowledge combined with our research and development capabilities will help bring new healthy and flavourful products to consumers,' said David Stark, vice-president of consumer traits at Monsanto. 'We are very excited and pleased to bring this focus to our business via this collaboration with Dole and its strong brand.'
Any new products realised from the partnership could be commercialised by Dole in North America, the groups said in a joint press statement.
'Dole prides itself on innovation and bringing consumers high quality, nutritious and great-tasting products,' said Dole Fresh Vegetables' senior vice-president of research and development Roger Billingsley. 'We are looking forward to collaborating closely with Monsanto to do just that.'
Monsanto spokeswoman Riddi Trivedi-St. Clair told local press that the new variants created through the partnership would not be genetically modified like Monsanto's corn seed and soybean products.
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