Des Moines, Iowa
July 2, 2007
DuPont (NYSE: DD) today announced that it has completed
regulatory submissions for its Optimum™ GAT™ trait in corn to
the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. The company also announced it is on track to
complete its submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency later this year.
"We are excited about the strong
progress we are making to bring the Optimum(TM)GAT(TM) trait
closer to market," said Erik Fyrwald, group vice president --
DuPont Agriculture & Nutrition. "After completing U.S.
regulatory submissions for the trait in soybeans in 2006, we are
now meeting our regulatory milestones for the trait in corn.
This keeps us on track for commercial introduction of the
Optimum(TM) GAT(TM) trait in soybeans in 2009 and in corn in
2010."
The Optimum(TM) GAT(TM) trait will
give growers a new and better choice in glyphosate-tolerant corn
seed that maximizes yield potential, improves crop safety and
expands weed control options. According to the U.S.D.A., of the
estimated 157 million acres of corn and soybeans planted in the
U.S., 52 percent of corn acres and 91 percent of soybean acres
are herbicide resistant.
"Industry-leading Pioneer corn
genetics with the Optimum(TM) GAT(TM) trait will provide farmers
a new choice to maximize yield and productivity while allowing
new weed control options. As world demand for corn production
continues to grow, flexibility and increased productivity for
growers becomes even more important," said Fyrwald.
In addition to maximizing growers'
yield potential and providing unsurpassed glyphosate tolerance,
this next-generation herbicide-tolerant trait was created to
provide farmers with new weed control options. This includes the
ability to incorporate complementary ALS herbicides offered by
DuPont Crop Protection into a glyphosate program, giving growers
longer lasting, broader spectrum weed control under more
conditions than ever before.
The Optimum(TM) GAT(TM) trait is a
proprietary trait with herbicide tolerance that DuPont plans to
commercialize first in soybeans by 2009, pending regulatory
approval. The company completed U.S. regulatory submissions for
approval of the trait in soybeans in 2006. DuPont also plans to
commercialize the trait in other crops.
The Optimum(TM) GAT(TM) trait is
the first-ever agricultural trait developed through proprietary
DuPont gene shuffling technology.
The Optimum(TM) GAT(TM) trait is
licensed to Syngenta for use in corn and soybeans. It will also
be cross-licensed through GreenLeaf Genetics, a joint venture
between Syngenta Seeds and Pioneer to out-license genetics and
seed technology to other U.S. and Canadian seed companies.
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont
business, 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 in nearly 70 countries. DuPont Crop
Protection serves the global production agriculture industry
with leading products for grain and specialty crops, forestry,
vegetation management, fruits and vegetables, and also has
entered the professional pest control market.
DuPont is a science-based products and services 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 and food; building and
construction; communications; and transportation.
Optimum(TM), GAT(TM) and the Optimum Design are trademarks of
Pioneer Hi-Bred. |
