Monsanto and Dole Fresh Vegetables are set to team up for a five-year vegetable breeding collaboration.

The link-up will focus on creating variations of broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce and spinach.

Breeding will be used to improve the nutrition, flavour, colour, texture, taste and aroma of these vegetables.

The move follows Monsanto’s acquisition of Netherlands-based De Ruiter Seeds last year and of Seminis in 2005.