Have You Had Your Broccoli Today?

Broccoli, a popular vegetable in the continental cuisine, has its native origin from the Mediterranean region and has been grown in Italy at least since the days of the Roman Empire. In 2013, the European patent No. 1069819 with the title "Method for selective increase of the anticarcinogenic glucosinolates in Brassica species" was granted to an agrochemical company Mosanto which has now been acquired by Bayer. This patent contained process claims with regard to the methods of cultivation of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) with elevated levels of certain glucosinolates. These elevated levels of glucosinolates resulted in the broccoli plant to have an extended head or rather a head higher than the leaves. This invention made it easier for the plant to be mechanically harvested.