April 27, 2004

EPA Extends Registration For Monsanto's Corn Product

The Environmental Protection Agency extended the registration of Monsanto Co.'s YieldGard Rootworm corn product and Bollgard II insect-protected cotton technology and through the 2006 growing season.

The biotechnology company said the extension allows it and corn seed companies that have licensed the YieldGard Rootworm product to sell it through this period.

YieldGard Rootworm corn contains a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, a common soil microbe that targets rootworm larvae, that allows the corn plant to naturally protect itself against the damaging corn rootworm insect pest.

Bollgard II is the second-generation of insect-protected cotton developed by Monsanto. This technology provides growers with benefits such as a broader spectrum of insect control and increased defense against the development of insect resistance.