St. Louis, Missouri
August 17, 2007
Decision brings Brazilian
farmers closer to accessing technologies and benefits which
other growers have used for more than a decade
Monsanto Company (NYSE:
MON) today welcomed the news that the
Brazilian National Biosafety
Technical Committee (CTNBio) approved the company's MON 810
insect protection event, known in the United States as
YieldGard® Corn Borer, for future commercial use in corn in
Brazil.
The regulatory process in Brazil is a multi-step process, and
while other steps are still required, the Committee's decision
brings the technology closer to reality for Brazilian farmers.
"We're pleased with the decision of CTNBio," said Brett
Begemann, Executive Vice President of International Commercial
for Monsanto Company. "While more regulatory reviews remain
ahead, we can look forward to providing Brazilian farmers with
access to the yield benefits of our trait technologies in
combination with our higher-yield seed offerings." Begemann
adds, "These same technologies have helped other growers
increase their productivity and profitability for more than ten
years in countries around the world, including Argentina."
CTNBio is managed by the Ministry of Science and Technology and
is charged with making science-based, technical assessments of
biotechnology crops including commercial conditions of use. The
CTNBio approval may be followed by a review from the National
Biosafety Council (CNBS) to examine social and economic factors.
Following a favorable review by CNBS, and approvals of the
individual MON 810 events in specific hybrid varieties, farmers
will be able to plant these higher-yielding seeds.
Corn is the third most planted crop in the world and Brazil
ranks third in the world based on harvested area.
Corn hybrids that include the MON 810 event express a naturally
occurring protein called Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, that
helps the corn plant protect itself from feeding damage caused
by harmful insects, including corn borer. Using biotechnology
traits to help the plant protect itself from insect damage helps
farmers increase yields and reduce the application of
pesticides. The MON 810 trait was first introduced in the United
States in 1997.
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of
technology-based solutions and agricultural products that
improve farm productivity and food quality.
YieldGard is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC.
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