EU remain divided on two biotech corn crops

Experts from European Union governments remained divided Wednesday on allowing farmers to grow two new strains of genetically modified corn in the EU, the European Commission said Wednesday (February 25).

Under the EU's system for approving biotech crops, the decision must now be considered by the EU's environment ministers. The commission, the EU's executive arm, recommended the corn plants be approved, and if the ministers can't reach a decision, the commission has the authority to make a unilateral decision on the plants.

The crops are Bt-11, developed by Syngenta AG (SYT), and 1507, developed jointly by Pioneer Hi-Bred, a subsidiary of EI DuPont de Nemours & Co. (DD), and Mycogen Seeds, a unit of Dow Chemical Co. (DOW).

Only one kind of biotech corn, a variety developed by Monsanto Co. (MON), can be grown in the EU.