January 4, 2006

 

Monsanto's GM corn receives USDA clearance
 

 

Monsanto recently announced that the USDA has granted deregulated status for its MON88017 - a second-generation product combining both its rootworm and Roundup Ready Corn 2 trait technologies - and MON88017 stacked with YieldGard Corn Borer. These regulatory clearances represent a major step toward the future commercialisation of these products.

 

The USDA deregulation was based on a comprehensive Plant Protection Act risk assessment of MON88017. The US Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration had completed their reviews of MON88017 previously.

 

"Over the last two decades, Monsanto scientists have focused on researching and delivering meaningful products to our farmer customers," said Robert Fraley, executive vice president and chief technology officer for Monsanto. "Today's announcement represents a significant milestone demonstrating our company's leadership in developing and registering second generation insect and weed control biotech products as well."

 

About MON88017

 

MON88017 is a vector stack of Monsanto's Rootworm and Roundup Ready Corn 2 trait offerings. This means that the rootworm-control gene is already combined with the glyphosate-tolerance gene when the genetic package is inserted into the plant.

 

Unlike traditional breeding techniques that introduced both traits individually into corn hybrids, MON88017 allowed their simultaneous introduction in one genetic package. This would reduce breeding costs and increase the speed at which elite corn germplasm can be provided to corn growers.

 

The product's YieldGard Rootworm corn technology allows the corn plant to naturally protect its roots against the damaging corn rootworm. Planting of Monsanto's current YieldGard Rootworm product was estimated on more than 1.619 million hectares in 2005. Monsanto estimates that its YieldGard Rootworm corn technology has an available market of 10.117 to 12.141 million hectares in the US over the long term.

 

In addition, the product's Roundup Ready Corn 2 technology provides growers with crop safety and effective weed control with Roundup agricultural herbicides. Planting of Roundup Ready corn technology was estimated on 9.712 million hectares in the US in 2005. The company estimates that the Roundup Ready corn technology has a market potential to reach 24.281 million hectares in the US over the long term.

 

Commercial offerings expected in the future
 

Monsanto is seeking the necessary regulatory clearances for MON88017 and MON88017 stacked with YieldGard Corn Borer on the US state level and approvals in countries that are major importers of US corn. Commercial launch timing for these products has not yet been announced.

 

Monsanto's 2005 field research demonstrated that MON88017 provided outstanding performance for corn rootworm control along with safety to the application of Roundup agricultural herbicides. Monsanto has not announced a trade name for this technology yet, and would refer to it as MON88017 until it completes the branding process.

 

YieldGard and Roundup Ready are registered trademarks owned by Monsanto or its wholly-owned subsidiaries.