<p>Monsanto is teaming up with a Danish biotech company Novozymes to develop microscopic organisms that help plants grow and resist pests. This recent move could allow Monsanto to circumvent some concerns over its genetically modified seeds, according to The Wall Street Journal.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Monsanto agreed to pay Novozymes $300 million as part of a deal in which the companies plan to combine their efforts to cultivate helpful microorganisms. In addition, the seed company will also get the use of some Novozymes products as well as staff to help with marketing. Novozymes' main specialty is producing industrial enzymes—complex proteins that help create chemical changes.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Agricultural researchers are trying to better understand how those organisms, like microbes, interact with plant roots to cultivate plants that can absorb nutrients faster and resist disease.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Under the new agreement, it and Monsanto will maintain separate research efforts, while Novozymes handles manufacturing and Monsanto sells new products. The companies will split the cost of development will each get 50% of the profits from sales.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"This collaboration immediately elevates microbials as the next major platform in agriculture that will elevate yield and productivity beyond the seed itself," said Hugh Grant, Chief Executive of Monsanto while Mary Ann Bruns, associate professor of soil science at Penn State University, called the effort "a different spin on an old idea." </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Will the company successfully create more space for itself in the non-GMO arena? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we follow Monsanto’s efforts.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303330204579250650157892322" target="_new">Wall Street Journal</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.monsanto.com/products/Pages/default.aspx" target="_new">Monsanto</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
