USDA deregulates first drought-tolerant trait
Monsanto received deregulation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for MON 87460, the company's first-generation drought-tolerant trait for corn.
Drought-tolerant corn is projected to be introduced as part of an overall system that would offer farmers improved genetics, agronomic practices and the drought trait. Monsanto plans to conduct on-farm trials in 2012 to give farmers experience with the product, while generating data to help inform the company's commercial decisions.
"Our drought system is designed to help farmers mitigate the risk of yield loss when experiencing drought stress, primarily in areas of annual drought stress," said Hobart Beeghly, U.S. product management lead. "This spring farmers in the Western Great Plains will have an opportunity to see how the system performs on their farm through on-farm trials."
For the 2012 trials, Monsanto plans to have Genuity VT Triple PRO and Genuity VT Double PRO technology serve as the agronomic trait platform to be used with the drought-tolerant trait. These technologies offer growers excellent insect protection and tolerance to Roundup agricultural herbicides.
The drought-tolerant trait is part of Monsanto's Yield and Stress collaboration in plant biotechnology with Germany-based BASF. The collaboration is aimed at developing higher-yielding crops and crops more tolerant to adverse environmental conditions, such as drought.
"Through this collaboration, BASF is excited to be working on meaningful solutions for growers dealing with drought-stressed environments," said Jonathan Bryant, vice president of business management at BASF Plant Science. "We look forward to future advances from our yield and stress-tolerant pipeline with Monsanto."
The USDA deregulation concludes the U.S. federal regulatory process. Import approvals in key corn import markets with functioning regulatory systems are in progress.
Comments (4)
Leave a commentEideard
Report AbuseBravo! A lot of the world will benefit from this - not just dry land farmers in the US.
YoungFarmer
Report AbuseWho are you fooling? First traits are inserted into corn that. This causes the plant to need more water to keep the same yield. Now you trait it again to be more efficient with water. Sounds like an expensive zero-sum game. No thanks I'll stick with conventional seed thank you.
huskerbb
Report AbuseYou are going to get left behind. The farmers who are driving up farmland costs and rent, buying half a million dollar combines, etc... are the ones who are getting yield. They are NOT the low input growers. Corn yields are on an upward trend unprecedented in the history of agriculture. You won't even be able to get the highest yielding genetics without traits.
I'll be sure to come to your farm sale in 10 years (or less).
Buckeyefootball
Report AbuseAgree huskerbb! It's all about yield and the new genetics are driving this new era in corn production. All new hybrids will be traited and by not using them you will be left behind.