St. Louis, Missouri
July 19, 2004
The European Commission today
approved the import, processing and use in animal feed of
Monsanto’s NK603 Roundup
Ready Corn grain in the European Union (EU), conditional upon
its pending approval under the EU Novel Foods Regulation.
Monsanto’s NK603 corn, which is designed to be tolerant to the
active ingredient in Roundup agricultural herbicides, is
currently marketed as Roundup Ready Corn 2.
“Monsanto welcomes the
Commission’s ruling on Roundup Ready Corn 2 technology,” said
Brett Begemann, Executive Vice-President of International
Commercial for Monsanto. “This decision is welcome progress
toward completing the necessary regulatory approvals for Roundup
Ready Corn 2 technology in the EU. We’re hopeful that this is a
signal that the European Communities and its Member States are
serious about ending the moratorium on biotech approvals.”
Earlier today, the Council of Ag
Ministers failed to reach a qualified majority on the use of
NK603 corn and its processed products as foods and food
ingredients under the Novel Foods Regulation. This decision will
continue in the regulatory process.
The approval announced today does
not include the approval of Roundup Ready Corn 2 for cultivation
in the EU, which is the subject of a separate submission under
Directive 2001/18/EC. Monsanto is also currently awaiting
decisions on separate submissions for its corn trait
technologies stacked with NK603 corn.
Last week, the Argentine
government approved Monsanto’s NK603 Roundup Ready event for
planting in that country. The approval ensures that Argentine
corn growers will have access to the technology in hybrids as
early as the 2004 planting season and is expected to expand
global adoption of the herbicide-tolerant technology.
Since
Roundup Ready Corn technology was first introduced in the United
States in 1998, growers have realized numerous on-farm benefits
including simpler and better weed control. The Roundup Ready
system also encourages the adoption of conservation tillage
practices, which reduces soil erosion, improves water quality
and wildlife habitat, while optimizing yields.
The
benefits of the technology continue to serve as a primary driver
for adoption. Monsanto’s preliminary 2004 sales data suggests
that acres planted with Roundup Ready Corn are expanding in the
US; acres planted are expected to increase for a seventh
consecutive season and it is estimated to be planted on 16
million acres this season, up from 12 million acres last year.
“While
we work to complete the remaining steps in the EU process, we
remain focused on making progress in our marketing efforts for
Roundup Ready Corn,” said Kerry Preete, Vice President of US
Crop Production for Monsanto. “Throughout this season, we’re
working closely with U.S. growers and grain elevators to help
better identify the existing domestic market opportunity for
Roundup Ready Corn hybrids marketed under the Market Choices
program,” said Preete.
Growers
planting Roundup Ready Corn 2 hybrids will need to market the
grain under the Market Choices program until all remaining steps
of the EU regulatory process are completed.
The
Market Choices program identifies those hybrids that are fully
approved for food and feed use in the United States and Japan,
but are still awaiting the necessary approvals in the European
Union.
Growers
that plant Market Choices hybrids must use appropriate markets
for this grain including feedlots, feed mills, on-farm feeding,
or work with grain handlers who agree to accept the grain.
Growers should contact their local seed dealers and grain
handlers for more stewardship details.
“By
continuing the focus on expanding the grower choices for grain
marketability, we believe the U.S. market for Roundup Ready Corn
will be close to 20 million acres in the 2005 growing season,
with a longer-term market potential of 50 million acres,” Preete
said.
Monsanto Company
(NYSE: MON) is a leading global provider of technology-based
solutions and agricultural products that improve farm
productivity and food quality.
Roundup Ready and Roundup are registered trademarks of Monsanto
Technology LLC |