ST. LOUIS—Monsanto Co. will, according to this story, release a new breed of soybeans in partnership with The Solae Co., a firm that is mostly owned by one of Monsanto's biggest competitors.

The St. Louis-based biotech company announced the partnership Thursday. Food company Solae is mostly owned by DuPont, the global technology corporation that also owns Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

Partnering with Solae offers Monsanto a ready-made marketing machine for the new breed of soybeans. Solae processes and sells soy protein to 3,000 customers worldwide that make everything from health drinks to hamburgers.

Monsanto will provide Solae a new strain of soybean that yields more flavorful protein and which is easier to mix into other products, the companies said.