Biotech Updates

USDA Deregulates Drought Tolerant Trait for Corn

January 6, 2012

U.S. Department of Agriculture has deregulated Monsanto's first-generation drought-tolerant trait for corn (MON 87460). Monsanto plans to hold on-farm trials in 2012 to let farmers experience using the product and at the same time gather data to help inform the company's commercial decisions. Drought tolerance is considered as one of the important traits that must be developed in crops for them to withstand the effects of global warming.

"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."

The company plans to use the drought-tolerant trait with Genuity® VT Triple PRO® and Genuity® VT Double PRO® technology to offer producers excellent insect protection and tolerance to herbicides. The trait was developed by Monsanto in collaboration with Germany-based BASF Plant Science.

Read the news release at http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/usda-deregulates-drought-tolerant-corn.