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Golden Valley, Minnesota
December 4, 2008
Syngenta reported today
that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted
registration approval for its new Agrisure® corn trait, referred
to as the MIR162 event, which Syngenta will include in stacks
with the Agrisure CB/LL trait for the control of a broad
spectrum of lepidopteran corn pests. The approval is a key
milestone in bringing to market a new mode of action for insect
control in corn.
Pending all remaining regulatory and key import approvals,
hybrids containing the new trait are anticipated to be available
for planting in spring 2010. The trait will only be available
stacked with either the Agrisure 3000GT trait stack for control
of European corn borer, corn rootworm and glyphosate or
glufosinate herbicide tolerance, or the Agrisure GT/CB/LL stack
for control of European corn borer with glyphosate and
glufosinate herbicide tolerance.
The MIR162 event uses a new proprietary technology from Syngenta
that features a novel insecticidal protein called Vegetative
Insecticidal Protein 3A (Vip3A). In Syngenta trials, the trait
has been shown to provide enhanced control of a wide range of
lepidopteran corn pests including corn earworm, western bean
cutworm, black cutworm and fall armyworm.
Tracy Mader, marketing manager for Agrisure Corn Traits, said
the technology, which represents a new mode of action for insect
control in corn, is expected to deliver several key benefits.
“Current corn insect control traits use Cry proteins,” Mader
said. “Although Vip3A targets pests in a manner similar to the
Cry class of proteins, the two types of protein attack different
sites on the pest’s gut and have distinct modes of action.
“Just as using different herbicides can help reduce the
potential for weeds developing resistance to herbicides, using
different modes of action for insect control can reduce the risk
for resistance development to these critical trait
technologies.”
Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to
sustainable agriculture through innovative research and
technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and
ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in
2007 were approximately $9.2 billion. Syngenta employs over
21,000 people in more than 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on
the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further
information is available at
www.syngenta.com.
Agrisure®, NK® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a
Syngenta Group Company.
Garst® is a trademark of Garst Seed Company.
Golden Harvest® is a trademark of Golden Harvest Seeds, Inc. |
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