New Delhi (PTI): Bio-technology major Monsanto is developing seed varieties of cotton, soyabean and corn which will be drought-resistant and need less water.

"We are developing seed variety, which will require less water and will also be drought resistant," Monsanto's Senior Director (Asia) Harvy L Glick said.

The first in the series of drought tolerant seeds would be cotton, which is likely to be commercially launched in 2012 in the US, Glick said.

Monsanto is also working on other crops like soyabean, corn and canola with similar traits, he said, adding that the developed seeds would be introduced in the market 1-2 years after the launch of new cotton seed.

This product will have special significance for countries such as India where 60 per cent of the total agricultural land is dependent on monsoon rains, Glick said.

Further, the company has also developed soyabean variety -- Vistive LL -- that is low in linolenic acid and eliminates transfat without increasing saturated fat. This variety is already available in the north American markets.

The company is working on developing more varieties of soyabean that will bring it closer to the properties of olive oil, which is considered the healthiest of all edible oils, Glick added.