Scientists working for Swiss biotech giant Novartis patented new technology which can switch plants' immune systems on and off using a chemical spray. Novartis claimed that their only interest was to give farmers greater control. Cynics pointed out that it could also be used to force farmers to buy the company's chemicals every autumn in order to have a healthy crop. Environmentalists were very concerned that the contamination of the environment through cross-fertilisation would be even more disastrous with this technology than with basic GM technology.

Novartis believed the technology could be applied to every crop on Earth and already has plans to develop immune-manipulable barley, cucumber, tobacco, rice, chilli, wheat, banana and tomato. Ironically, Novartis also manufactures the "sweet dreams" comfort drink Ovaltine!