Scientists at Monsanto Company today announced that they successfully have created a new biotechnology crop expected to help alleviate Vitamin A deficiency, and thus potentially reduce the related diseases that affect nearly 800 million people worldwide.

The research, to be published in this month's edition of the Plant Journal (volume 20, number 4, pages 401-412), successfully developed a new variety of rapeseed plant to produce beta-carotene enriched oil, which the human body converts into Vitamin A. When their diets lack sufficient amounts of Vitamin A, people of developing countries -- especially children -- develop diseases including: night blindness -- which ultimately leads to permanent loss of vision; loss of immune system functions; and the inability to absorb proteins.

"Biotechnology has unlocked the door to healthier foods targeted to address specific nutritional needs in particular world areas,'' said Dr. Ganesh Kishore, Monsanto's chief biotechnologist and president of the company's nutrition sector.

"We believe we can provide a cost efficient and convenient way to deliver nutrition to those people
who can't afford vegetables or don't have access to dietary supplements, but whose diets already
include rape seed oil,'' said Dr. Christine Shewmaker, a Monsanto scientist whose team completed the breakthrough.

The enriched oil was created using a gene from a naturally occurring soil bacterium to increase the level of beta-carotene present within the rapeseed plant -- a member of the mustard family. The gene is a close cousin of the plant gene normally responsible for regulating levels of beta-carotene production in the rape seed.

The main source of beta-carotene in most people's diets is fresh fruit and vegetables or fortified milk and cereals. However, in some areas -- particularly developing countries where the diet consists mainly of rice and pulses -- the diet is often highly deficient in beta-carotene and Vitamin A. Monsanto's oil contains the highest concentration of beta-carotene that is seen in any oil or vegetable today. One teaspoon of the oil could provide the daily recommended intake for an adult.

"This is a powerful, innovative way of providing individual farmers with a sustainable way of fortifying foods,'' Kishore said.

Monsanto has been growing the new rapeseed plant in field trials in the United States. Further safety testing for environmental, food and animal safety, including appropriate human consumption levels should be completed over the next few years.

Monsanto is a life sciences company, committed to finding solutions to the growing global needs for food and health by applying advanced science to agriculture, nutrition and health. It makes and
manufactures high-value agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients.

Company news release
N2299