The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended the registration of the YieldGard Rootworm corn product developed by Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) through the 2006 growing season.  This extension enables Monsanto and corn seed companies that have licensed this product to sell the YieldGard Rootworm product through this period. 

“Extending this registration is great news for the more than 200 seed companies and tens of thousands of U.S. farmers who plant biotech-enhanced corn hybrids,” said Jim Zarndt, Corn Traits Product Manager for Monsanto.  “YieldGard Rootworm technology is an important tool that reduces a farmers’ input costs on farm and provides them with the convenience of reduced insecticide handling while effectively controlling this damaging insect.”

YieldGard Rootworm corn is the first product developed through plant biotechnology designed to control the corn rootworm pest and one of the products in Monsanto’s “YieldGard” family of insect-protected products for corn. 

YieldGard Rootworm corn contains a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a common soil microbe that targets rootworm larvae, that allows the corn plant to naturally protect itself against the damaging corn rootworm insect pest.  The Cry3Bb1 protein that is expressed in YieldGard Rootworm corn is from the Cry3 family of proteins, which are specific to the corn rootworm. 

Today’s announcement extends the product’s registration and enables Monsanto to continue to provide the technology to growers through the 2006 season. The extension requires the continuation of key stewardship practices, including the comprehensive insect resistance management (IRM) program for YieldGard Rootworm corn.

The EPA originally granted a short term registration for YieldGard Rootworm corn in 2003 based on the existence of a time-limited exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for the Cry3Bb protein produced by YieldGard Rootworm corn.  On March 31^st, 2004, the EPA granted a non-expiring tolerance exemption for the Cry3Bb protein, in turn enabling the Agency to extend the registration for YieldGard Rootworm corn.

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.