Calgene eyes a move onto UCD. (Calgene Inc. plans relocation to University of California at Davis)

Monsanto Co. is negotiating to shift its recently acquired Davis biotech firm, Calgene Inc., to a new center on the campus of University of California at Davis.

Monsanto is weighing whether to build a lab, greenhouse and office complex to make it easier for the company and the university to share genetic research.

If the move goes ahead, it would secure Calgene's position at the heart of Monsanto's West Coast operations.

"Monsanto is considering a West Coast biotechnology presence and I think Calgene would be the nucleus," said Lloyd Kunimoto, president of Calgene Inc.

Monsanto, the St. Louis-based manufacturer of chemical, agricultural, pharmaceutical and food products, is due to announce its plans for the West Coast this autumn. Monsanto completed its acquisition of Calgene in May.

It's not a done deal yet, but moving onto the campus would make communication between university researchers and Monsanto staff easier, said Matt Drumm, facilities project manager for the Monsanto Life …