Grain corn containing the trait combination of Herculex(1) I Insect Protection and Roundup Ready(2) Corn 2 has received approval for import into Japan, a significant overseas market for North American corn.  This includes food, feed and environmental approvals within the Japanese regulatory system.

   Corn with these traits offers broad in-plant insect-protection, together with resistance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup(2) herbicide.  Herculex I protects the corn plant against European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, western bean cutworm, black cutworm and fall armyworm.  The Roundup Ready trait allows growers to control weeds through a cost-efficient, broad-spectrum herbicide system, providing them enhanced flexibility in their crop protection program.

    The Herculex I and Roundup Ready traits previously received individual approvals for import into Japan.  The Japanese regulatory system requires that the stacked traits complete a separate regulatory review, even when the individual traits have been approved.  Both traits also have been fully approved individually in the United States and Canada.  The U.S. and Canadian regulatory systems do not require a separate approval for stacked insect-resistant and herbicide-resistant traits. 

    Herculex I is part of a family of traits being developed in a research collaboration between Dow AgroSciences, a world leader in pest control and a growing marketer of seed, and Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a world leader in seed technology and seed products.  Future products include Herculex RW for corn rootworm protection and Herculex XTRA, combining the insect protection offered by both Herculex I and Herculex RW.  
   
    "Corn hybrids with the Herculex I and Roundup Ready stacked traits expands the number of choices growers have in crop protection traits," says Kyle Whitaker, technology launch manager for Pioneer.  "This allows producers to better select corn hybrids that best fit the specific needs of their farming operations."

    While registration efforts continue in other major corn-producing and corn-consuming regions of the world, approval by Japan's regulatory agencies for import of this grain marks a major advancement, since Japan is a key destination for U.S. grain.  Pending regulatory approval in all major world markets, grain from hybrids with the Herculex I and Roundup Ready traits will be subject to market-channeling and export restrictions.

    "These import approvals for grain corn containing Herculex I and Roundup Ready traits increase marketing opportunities for growers of this trait combination and give farmers more pest-control options," says Tom Wiltrout, general manager, U.S. Seeds, at Dow AgroSciences.  "It also demonstrates the growing global acceptance for the technology."

    The Herculex I trait also provides tolerance to Liberty(3) herbicide which controls more than 100 grass and broadleaf weeds on contact, expanding the weed control options available to growers with this stacked trait.

    While Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer pooled their talents to research, develop and seek regulatory approval for the new technologies, they will independently market and sell products with the Herculex I trait on a competitive basis -- Dow AgroSciences through Mycogen Seeds and other licensed seed companies and Pioneer within its own brand.
 
    Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana is a global leader in providing pest management and biotechnology products that improve the quality and quantity of the earth's food supply and contribute to the safety, health and quality of life of the world's growing population.  Dow AgroSciences has over 5,500 people in over 50 countries dedicated to its business, and has worldwide sales of more than US $3.4 billion. Dow AgroSciences and Mycogen Seeds are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Dow Chemical Company.  Mycogen markets grain corn, silage corn and nutritionally enhanced corn seed, as well as sunflower, canola, soybean, alfalfa and sorghum seed through a distribution system of sales representatives, distributors and retail outlets.
 
    Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries. DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.
 
    (1) Herculex I Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred.  Herculex is a registered trademark of Dow  AgroSciences LLC.
    (2) Roundup and Roundup Ready are registered trademarks used under license from Monsanto Company. 
    (3) Liberty is a registered trademark of Bayer AG.