|
NCGA Applauds Japanese Approval of Herculex I, Corn Growers Gain New
Option
June
24, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact:
Mimi Ricketts, NCGA, 636-733-9004, ext. 112
ST.
LOUIS (June 24, 2002) -- Grain corn containing the Herculex(tm) I Insect
Protection trait has received regulatory committee approvals for food,
feed and import into Japan, clearing an important hurdle on the road
to commercialization. Leon Corzine, chairman of the National Corn Growers
Association (NCGA) Biotech Working Group, said Herculex I provides a
new option for the nation's corn growers.
"It gives corn
growers another choice," said the Assumption, Ill., corn grower.
"The Japanese approval of the commercialization of Herculex I will
give corn growers another tool in the toolbox for production agriculture.
It's good for the environment and will help producers with safety and
profitability."
NCGA believes the
development of biotechnology offers great promise for corn growers through
improved efficiencies and potential profits when managed wisely and
with regulatory oversight based on sound science.
Herculex I is the
first trait in a new generation of in-plant insect-protection traits
for corn. This family of traits is being developed in a research collaboration
between Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Herculex
I guards against European and southwestern corn borer and expands protection
to include black cutworm and fall armyworm.
Last year, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Agriculture
and the Food and Drug Administration granted full food and feed registration
to Herculex I for the United States. Later in 2001, the EPA re-registered
Herculex I, along with other Bt corn products. While registration efforts
continue in other major corn-producing and corn-consuming regions of
the world, approval by Japan's regulatory agencies for import of this
grain marks a major advancement, since Japan is a key destination for
U.S. grain.
"NCGA wants
to thank Dow and Pioneer for their recognition of our policies in waiting
on the commercialization of Herculex I until they received Japanese
approval," said Corzine. "We're confident they will continue
to work with us as they commercialize new products using our 'Know Before
You Grow' campaign as a model."
For more information
on biotechnology and 'Know Before You Grow', visit the NCGA website
at http://www.ncga.com/biotechnology/main/index.html.
# # #
The National Corn
Growers Association mission is to create and increase opportunities
for corn growers in a changing world and to enhance corn's profitability
and usage. NCGA represents more than 32,000 members, 25 affiliated state
corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute
to state checkoff programs.
|