Man admits stealing patented corn seeds from US fields to take to China

Mo Hailong stole inbred corn seeds, developed by Monsanto and DuPont in Iowa, as part of plan to use them in Chinese business

A Chinese man pleaded guilty in a US court on Wednesday to stealing patent-protected corn seed from agribusiness giants Monsanto and DuPont to take back to China for commercial use.

Mo Hailong, 46, participated in a plot to steal inbred corn seeds from the two US companies so that his then employer, Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group, could use them in its own seed business, the US Department of Justice said.