Biotech Updates

Uruguay's CGR approved Five Maize Biotech Events

July 1, 2011

On 22nd June, Uruguay´s regulatory body, Comisión de Gestión del Riesgo (CGR) approved the cultivation of five genetically modified (GM) maize biotech events: MON810 x NK603 and NK603 from Monsanto, GA21 and BT11x GA21 from Syngenta and TC1507 from Pioneer Hi-Bred/Dow AgroSciences. This approval ends the 18 months moratorium in Uruguay that will enable for the very first time the use of stacked biotech maize hybrids by farmers in Uruguay.

These GM events allow a reduction on insecticide use and the deployment of no tillage corn techniques which protects soil from erosion and reduces the CO2 footprint from agriculture. It also reflects the strong current support on biotechnology in Uruguay.

There are now five GM events that can be grown in the country, as corn MON810 and GA21 were already approved as well as Round Up Ready soybeans.

For details, see the approvals in Spanish at  http://www.mgap.gub.uy/portal/hgxpp001.aspx?7,1,144,O,S,0,MNU;E;2;2;12;5;MNU