CALIFORNIA - UC Davis has sued the California Strawberry Commission in response to a lawsuit it filed against the UC just over a year ago.

The Sacramento Bee reports that both lawsuits revolve around the future of UC Davis’ plant-breeding program that has produced new kinds of strawberries for nurseries and farmers since the 1930s.  This industry has been paying the university tens of millions of dollars in research grants and royalties in return for the new varieties.

As we previously reported, this longstanding relationship became tense when two leading UC strawberry experts planned to leave the university and start a private company for strawberry crop developments.  They wanted to take a share of valuable UC inventory of strawberry specimens dating back to the 1930s.

The Strawberry Commission was alarmed and sued the University of California alleging it was endorsing privatization of an important part of the state’s agricultural heritage.  That lawsuit also demanded that the university turn over its collection of 1,500 strawberry plants use in breeding, known as the ‘germplasm.’

According to the Bee, UC's counter lawsuit is asking for the university to be declared the sole owner of the germplasm and for the court to say that the Strawberry Commission isn’t entitled to a copy.  The university is also asking for a declaration that it is the sole owner of patents on nine strawberry varieties developed over the years by the two departing scientists.

Before these lawsuits, the commission funded UC research by $350,000 annually. Strawberry nurseries throughout the state also get discounts on royalties they paid to grow and sell UC varieties. 

There is a lot at stake in this fight.  The Bee reports that plant varieties developed by UC Davis have produced major breakthroughs in flavor, durability and other qualities over the years and currently account for about half of the state’s $2 billion-a-year strawberry crop.

Both the growers and UC Davis have been saying they would like to settle the case, but with this counter lawsuit, that seems less likely now.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the latest developments in this saga.