Biotech Updates

Brazil Approves New GM Corn Varieties

September 18, 2009

The Brazilian National Technical Commission on Biosafety (CTNBio) has cleared three new genetically modified (GM) corn varieties for commercial release in Brazil. Two corn varieties, developed by Monsanto and Syngenta, contain stacked traits for resistance to pests and tolerance to glyphosate-based pesticides. The third GMO corn, also developed by Syngenta, contains the insect-resistance trait only. The approval brings the total number of GMO corn varieties approved for use in Brazil to nine. Brazil is the world's third largest biotech crop producer, with 15.8 million hectares planted to biotech crops in 2008.

Visit http://www.ctnbio.gov.br/ for more information.