Biotech Updates

Monsanto Gains Regulatory Approval for Two New Products

July 25, 2008

Monsanto’s Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean has received regulatory approval in Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, the European Food Safety Authority has released a positive scientific opinion saying that the herbicide tolerant soybeans are safe for import as food and feed. Monsanto says that the GM soybean lines will be introduced on 1 million to 2 million acres for the 2009 season as part of a controlled commercial release, followed by a large-scale product launch of 5 million to 6 million acres scheduled for 2010. Currently, Roundup Ready 2 Yield is approved in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

The company has also gained U.S. approval for its new insect protection trait MON 89034. The Bt trait will be stacked with the Roundup Ready trait to be sold as YieldGard VT Triple PRO. YieldGard VT Triple PRO will be the first technology to produce two different Bt proteins to protect plants from common above-ground insects while also providing the existing rootworm protection and herbicide-tolerance traits in a single plant.

The media releases are accessible at http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=621 and http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=622