February 13, 2008

Monsanto and Bayer receive approval to grow GM corn in Brazil
 

Multinational seed companies Monsanto (MON) and Bayer CropScience got the green light Tuesday to begin producing and selling genetically modified corn in Brazil, the National Biosafety Commission, CTNBio, said.

Earlier last year, the Commission approved of Bayer's LibertyLink corn, but a federal court in Parana state blocked its commercial approval.

Parana is Brazil's top corn producing state and its government has been traditionally against the planting of transgenic crops.

Tuesday, the higher commission, known as the National Biosafety Council, upheld CTNBio's decision and also approved of Monsanto's Guardian brand genetically modified corn.

The Council is made up of officials from 11 ministries. Seven voted in favor, with four voting against the transgenic corn.

This is the first time the Council approved of genetically modified seeds to be planted and sold in Brazil. The council was created two years ago, a few months after the approval of Monsanto's Roundup Ready soy by CTNBio.

"This means that Monsanto and Bayer can now start to produce and sell GMO corn. We could have GMO corn growing in Brazil later this year," the press agent from CTNBio confirmed.

Brazil plants corn two times a year, once in the spring and again in the fall.

Corn is the No. 2 crop in terms of acreage, trailing behind soy, the country's top selling farm commodity.