Industry’s
First Triple-Trait Offering Demonstrates Growing Use, Acceptance
of Biotechnology (12-02-04)
Japan’s recent approval of the biotech industry’s
first commercial triple-trait corn seed demonstrates the growing
international acceptance of biotechnology, according to the National
Corn Growers Association (NCGA).
Monsanto’s
YieldGard Plus with Roundup Ready Corn 2 technology, which offers
in-seed
herbicide tolerance and protection against
harmful insects, was approved last week for food and feed use in
Japan. The event is the first triple-stack hybrid to gain approval
in the United States and Japan.
“Triple-trait technology offers more in-seed protection
than growers have ever had before,” said Darrin Ihnen, chair
of NCGA’s Biotechnology Working Group. “This type of
biotechnology allows growers to use less pesticide and less herbicide.”
While the Japanese government has fundamentally recognized the
safety and value of biotech hybrids, the European Union (EU) has
not yet approved numerous biotech events. Ihnen said NCGA continues
to educate European government officials and agriculture leaders
on the safety and benefits of biotechnology.
“Japan has its own solid science-based approval process,
but they also have trust in our system,” Ihnen said. “We’re
not there yet with the EU, and we need to continue our efforts
to bridge that gap.”
As growers
begin to make their planting decisions for next season, they
should log
on to NCGA’s Know
Before You Grow Web site to learn more about the approval status of
commercially available biotech corn seed, Ihnen said. The site
features the approval status of numerous biotech events in the
United States, EU and Japan, and helps growers decide what markets
are most appropriate for their corn.
“As producers, we have to know we’re getting our products
to the right markets,” Ihnen said, adding that corn growers
will continue to meet the demands of both biotech and conventional
corn markets. “Growers need to be good stewards of biotechnology
to get the most benefit out of it.”
Ihnen also
reminded growers that insect resistance management (IRM) is a
crucial
part of using insect-protected corn. NCGA offers
the IRM
Learning Center, an interactive online
module that trains growers on proper stewardship of biotechnology.
The YieldGard
Plus with Roundup Ready Corn 2 technology will be available for
planting
through Monsanto’s DEKALB and Asgrow
seed businesses, as well as licensed, independent seed dealers.
The seed will be available in limited quantities in 2005 with broader
availability in 2006.