Warring tomatoes

 
Published: Saturday 15 August 1992

-- Imperial Chemical Industries of England and Calgene of the USA are at war over who owns the patent rights to a "fresh" tomato. Both companies have developed a genetically improved, longer-lasting, non-squishy tomato that retains its flavour and firmness longer. Each pinpointed the enzyme that causes tomatoes to rot and researched a method to neutralise it. The US Patent and Trademark Office is investigating the validity of the two patent claims.

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