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Plants

OTHER NEWS - Dec. 28, 1991

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Du Pont to Develop Viruses as Pesticides: The chemical giant and a Maryland biotech firm announced a partnership aimed at making viruses that will kill pests but leave crops, beneficial bugs and humans unharmed. Du Pont agreed to pay Crop Genetics International of Hanover up to $3.75 million over two years to produce the viruses, which Du Pont will market worldwide. The organisms will destroy only the insects that go after crops, the companies said. An expert in insect ecology for an environmental group said the partnership represents one of the first commercial uses of viruses as pesticides.

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