Monsanto is undeniably the leader in biotech seeds. But in a duel likened to David-and-Goliath, Du-Pont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred announced that it will release its own brand of "Round-up Ready" corn and soybean seeds by 2009, hoping to put an end to Monsanto's dominance of the market.

Pioneer Hi-Bred's new strains of corn and soybeans still have to pass regulation before they can be sold in the United States, and there are still field trials to be conducted, but Pioneer Hi-Bred is looking forward to going "head to head with Monsanto".

Pioneer wouldn't reveal the brand name of the new products, which are currently broadly called GAT, or glyphosate ALS tolerant seeds. Glyphosate is the scientific name for Round-up, while ALS refers to another family of herbicides, which means theat Pinoeer's genetically engineered seeds will be resistant to Round-up as well as other herbicides.

Earlier, Pioneer announced the release of their Roundup ready alfalfa, just as the US DA faced charges for approving Monsanto's version of the biotechalfalfa.

Further research, particularly for the Pioneer's corn breeding programs, will most likely be conducted in the new research center in South Dakota.

More about Monsanto and Pioneer's seed fight from Mercury News.