July 30, 2007

BASF to develop GMO soy with Brazil's Embrapa

The agriculture products division of international chemical giant, BASF, said Friday it has entered into an agreement with Brazil's official crop science institute, Embrapa, to develop transgenic soybeans.

The partnership gives Embrapa access to BASF enzymes to create new varieties of soybeans genetically modified to be resistant to the herbicide imazapyr. The herbicide targets invasive grasses and weeds in soy fields. BASF sells the herbicide in the US under the Arsenal, Sahara and Stalker brand names.

According to local press reports, some US$6 million has been invested in the partnership.

Embrapa said the companies would hold a joint press conference in Brasilia on August 7 to discuss the project.

Embrapa and BASF AG (BF) will jointly register the new transgenic soy with the country's biosafety agency, CTNBio. CTNBio ultimately decides whether the new soy variety can be sold in the market.

So far, only Monsanto's (MON) Roundup Ready soybean variety is permitted for sale in Brazil. Embrapa is licensed to make its own varieties of Roundup Ready soy. Known in the market as RR soybeans, the genetically modified plant is resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, one of the most popular herbicides used on Brazilian soy farms.

Brazil is the world's No. 2 soy producer behind the US.