First Commercial Release of Locally Bred Biotech Soybean in Brazil; Approval of GM Maize in Argentina

The National Technical Commission on Biosafety (CTNBio) approved the first commercial release of a local herbicide tolerant soybean produced by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) in collaboration with BASF. The new variety, the result of ten years of research, will share the market with soya Roundup Ready (RR) of Monsanto, the only authorized genetically modified soybean in the country.

"It's a huge benefit for Brazil," said researcher Elíbio Rech from EMBRAPA. "Aside from the domestic market, the approval paves the way for product registration in over 20 countries that produce soybean and soybean products, including China. It opens a large market. It is a major commodity, Brazil can only win," Rech added.

The original article in Spanish is at http://www.inbio-paraguay.org/novedades/Liberan_comercializacian_de_primer_cultivo_transganico_verde-amarelho_299.html

Meanwhile, Argentina's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries authorized the planting, consumption and marketing of Bt11 x GA21 maize developed by Syngenta company.  For more articles in Spanish visit Argenbio at http://www.argenbio.org.