31/01/2019 (Agence Europe) – Syngenta withdrew its patent on tomatoes on Thursday, 31 January, giving way to the opposition comprising 65,000 people and 32 organizations. "It’s a huge success. European citizens no longer want to let big companies like Bayer, BASF and Syngenta take control of our food production through patent rights", said Johanna Eckhardt, member of No Patents on Seeds. While Syngenta claimed tomato seeds, plants and fruits as its invention in its patent, these products actually come from conventional crosses with tomato plants from Peru and Chile, according to 'No Patents on Seeds'. After having contacted the European Patent Office (EPO) on 24 January (see EUROPE 12179), the organisation intends to continue the mobilisation with the aim that the EPO put an end to the patenting of plants and animals resulting from conventional breeding. (DG - intern)