June 19, 2006

Monsanto shifts focus from GM plants to traditional breeding

Future strains of engineered plants from Monsanto may not come from gene splicing but from simple traditional breeding, judging by Monsanto's CEO Hugh Grant's enthusiasm for the method.

The trend that has been present in the last year and in the next few years would be that of breeding, said Monsanto Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant earlier this month.

Monsanto intends to increase crops developed with advanced breeding techniques to increase from the current 1 percent to 5 or 6 percent by 2006, Grant said.

Monsanto's Vistive was developed through traditional breeding with new technologies the company developed over a decade. Although the company is known for making GM plants, it is focusing more than ever on developing new plants through breeding in the face of mounting criticism.

Monsanto has said the Vistive soybean is a scientific breakthrough because it is ready-made for processing into healthier food oils that are low in trans fats.

Stark said that trans fat had been a recurring theme in his talks with the consumer industry. 

Although concerns were mounting about trans fats contributing to unhealthy cholesterol levels, it is difficult to eliminate it out of the production process as they give the oils a longer shelf life.

Monsanto is striving to breed a soybean with oils that are already stable enough to have a long shelf life, Stark said.