"We are encouraged to see these tools being used to help deliver responsible solutions to help farmers meet the demands of our growing population," Monsanto said in the release.
Monsanto and the Broad Institute share a number of patents used to develop an application known as CRISPER-Cas, which can be used to add, remove or combine genes in living organisms.
"Genome-editing techniques present precise ways to dramatically improve the scale and discovery efficiency of new research that can improve human health and global agriculture," the release quoted Broad Institute Chief Business Officer Issi Rozen as saying.
As the creator of genetically modified seeds widely used by farmers in the United States and elsewhere, Monsanto has become the target of environmental and other health-minded groups that are demanding that genetically modified food (GMO) be labeled.
GMO products are illegal or severely restricted in much of Europe. In the United States, nearly all pre-packaged food is produced with some gene modified technology unless the products are clearly marked non-GMO.
