April 26, 2007

Minnesota stops sale of GMO corn seed

Minnesota has ordered Dow AgroSciences LLC to stop selling genetically modified corn seed that resists root worm due to lack of state approvals, the state agriculture department said on Wednesday (April 25).

Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow Chemical Co. is the second company the state has mandated to halt sale of its Pioneer and Mycogen brand seed identified as DAS-59122-7. The trait helps the crop resist corn root worm, which can cause lower yields.

Minnesota requires GMO seed to have state approval and Dow has filed the necessary information, the state said.

The US Agriculture Department has approved the seed as safe to use for food and animal feed. Dow AgroSciences has also received the nod from key buyers of US corn such as Japan, he said.

The United States is the world's largest corn exporter and Japan is the No. 1 buyer of US corn with sales totalling about US$2 billion in 2006, according to government data.

Last week, Minnesota ordered Syngenta AG to stop selling its Agrisure RW corn.

Syngenta has also angered exporters of US corn by releasing Agrisure RW before it got overseas approval from Japan.

Syngenta has applied for permits but traders doubt the company will get Japanese approval before farmers harvest the crop this fall.

Most US grain companies have informed farmers they will not accept Agrisure corn at their facilities.