FOOD

Monsanto Co., one of the world’s leading agricultural biotechnology companies, agreed to sell its berry-improving technology to DNAP Holding Corp. as it seeks to raise money to integrate its seed acquisitions. Monsanto will give Oakland-based DNAP, a unit of Mexico’s Empresas La Moderna, exclusive rights to most of its gene technology for strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries and blueberries. DNAP also gets Monsanto’s berry-breeding operation, which has developed a new strawberry that will be sold in the U.S. this year. Terms weren’t disclosed. ELM has the right to use any of Monsanto’s genes to create enhanced fruits and vegetables.