September 25, 2007

 

Argentina to track bundled transgenic corn on EU concerns

 

 

Argentina will track corn grown from a recently approved transgenic bundled trait to avoid shipping that type of grain to the European Union, where the trait is not approved, according to a resolution published in the government's official bulletin Monday (September 24).

 

"Providers or distributors can only sell corn seeds with the bundled genes to users who have made a sworn statement ... that the seeds are destined for domestic consumption," the resolution reads.

 

A bundled trait combines two distinct transgenic characteristics into one seed variety. At the end of August, Monsanto Company's (MON) bundled MG and RR2 transgenic corn seed variety was approved for planting in the 2007-08 season.

 

The approval marks the first time bundled genetic traits have been approved in Argentina. In February, the government simplified the approval process for bundled traits, allowing applications for a transgenic crop combining two already approved genes without a full analysis of the new crop.

 

The seeds are genetically modified to produce a substance toxic to corn borer parasites and for glyphosate resistance, widely used as a herbicide to control weeds.

 

The tracking system seeks to avoid a repeat of problems over the GA21 transgenic corn trait that arose earlier this year. At the end of May, the government prohibited growing the variety after Spain rejected a shipment of Argentine corn. The GA21 trait, which is resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, isn't approved for human consumption in the European Union.

 

However, in July the ban on GA21 seeds was lifted following the implementation of a tracking system to prevent the corn from being shipped to the EU. Farmers who use the GA21 seeds must make sworn statements that the corn will be used domestically or exported to regions where the trait is approved. Growers must also notify storage facilities, exporters and processors of the presence of the trait before delivering the corn.

 

Syngenta AG (SYT) obtained Argentina's approval for the GA21 transgenic seed in 2005.

 

Monsanto has a small amount of the bundled MG and RR2 seeds ready for this year's crop which will be used to test the technology, Monsanto Argentina spokesman Federico Ovejero said recently.

 

The new variety is expected to boost corn yields by 5 to 7 percent, Monsanto said in a recent release.

 

Argentine farmers already use seeds modified to produce the insect toxin in about 60 percent of the corn crop, according to Monsanto.

 

Only the US produces more genetically modified crops than Argentina. Argentina has more than 17 million hectares dedicated to the production of transgenic crops, according to the International Service for the Acquisition Agri-Biotech Applications, or ISAAA, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the promotion of agricultural biotechnology.