One
of the most anticipated soybean product introductions is now one
step closer to farmers' fields.
Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) announced today that its
next-generation soybean technology, Roundup RReady2Yield™
soybeans, has completed the regulatory process in both the
United States and Canada. This marks an important step towards
making agriculture's first new soybean technology developed in
more than a decade a reality. It also marks an important
building block for the future introduction of Monsanto's
portfolio of soybean technologies for U.S. soybean farmers.
"We believe this next-generation soybean
technology represents a new opportunity for us to set the bar
higher while continuing to deliver new value to farmers," said
Robb Fraley, Monsanto's chief technology officer and executive
vice president. "Roundup RReady2Yield is certainly a centerpiece
technology within our soybean pipeline and one that we're
looking forward to delivering to U.S. soybean farmers."
The Roundup RReady2Yield soybean
technology represents a next-generation upgrade of the company's
popular Roundup Ready soybean technology. Three years of field
comparisons have demonstrated that the technology can deliver a
yield advantage of 7 to 11 percent over its first-generation
Roundup Ready counterpart.
Technology set as key building block
for next-generation soybean portfolio
Roundup RReady2Yield soybean technology
also represents an important base from which Monsanto will
introduce its portfolio of next-generation technologies in
soybeans -- including enhanced oil products and higher- yielding
traits. Monsanto's research in both breeding and biotechnology,
including technologies like Roundup RReady2Yield, highlights one
way the company is supporting farmers meet the world's growing
demand for food, feed and fuel.
"Our job is to deliver innovation to the
farm," said Fraley. "We anticipate that farmers who make the
investment in Roundup RReady2Yield are getting more than just
the benefits of this technology, they're gaining experience with
the building block on which our platform of new soybean
technologies will be built," said Fraley.
Monsanto gears up for introduction of
its first HIT technology to U.S. marketplace
Roundup RReady2Yield soybeans are one of
several technologies Monsanto has designated as a High Impact
Technology (HIT) within its research and development (R&D)
pipeline. Projects in the HIT program are targeted for
larger-acre commercial launches in high-yielding seed offerings.
This approach is expected to enable more farmers to access the
technology in its first full commercial launch year.
Monsanto will continue to move
aggressively into advanced pre-commercial development to prepare
for a large-acre launch consistent with the HIT concept.
Monsanto is working to obtain regulatory approvals in key export
markets around the world. Beginning in the spring of 2006,
Monsanto made 22 regulatory submissions in 15 countries. These
submissions are in varying stages of technical review, and the
company is seeing significant progress to date in countries
including Japan, China and the European Union. Monsanto is
focused on obtaining these approvals and is working with the
soybean industry to support a launch prior to the end of the
decade.
"We are working closely with the soybean
industry to ensure that U.S. farmers have broad markets for
Roundup RReady2Yield once we introduce this technology," Fraley
said.
Roundup Ready soybeans were first
introduced to U.S. soybean farmers in 1996.
Today, the in-the-seed technology is the
most widely used biotech trait allowing farmers throughout the
world to simplify their weed control practices.
Since its introduction, the Roundup
Ready system has enabled farmers to adopt conservation tillage
practices, including no-till, which helps farmers reduce or
eliminate tilling as a practice to control weeds. The practice
has been demonstrated to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas
emissions released into the environment, benefit wildlife and
protect streams from sedimentation.
|
Data
shows this next-generation technology will deliver a
7-11% yield advantage for soybean farmers |
Roundup RReady2Yield™ soybean, a next generation of
Roundup Ready® soybean with an improved yield
benefit, has completed the regulatory process in the
United States and Canada, Monsanto Company announced
today. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Health
Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have
all granted approvals, completing the final step in
each country’s regulatory process. These approvals
mark an important step forward bringing this
next-generation technology one step closer to
farmers’ fields.
Although approvals to plant the improved soybean
seeds have been granted, Monsanto, in keeping with
its stewardship pledge, does not intend to
commercialize the product until key soybean
importing countries with functioning regulatory
systems have granted import approvals. Monsanto has
submitted regulatory filings and is currently
awaiting approvals from key soybean export markets.
The company anticipates a commercial launch prior to
the end of the decade, once appropriate import
authorizations are obtained.
"We are always looking for new products that provide
value and benefit to growers, and we eagerly
anticipate bringing a substantial yield benefit to
the Roundup Ready system that growers have embraced
over the past 11 years," said Ernesto Fajardo, Vice
President of U.S. Crop Production for Monsanto. "In
addition to the simple, dependable, flexible and
reliable weed control and crop safety benefits
provided by the Roundup Ready system, growers will
be able to improve their bottom line by producing
more bushels per acre."
Three years of field comparisons have demonstrated
that Roundup RReady2Yield soybeans show a 7 to 11
percent yield advantage over a comparable
first-generation Roundup Ready line. In addition,
data collected during the first year of large-scale
breeding comparisons representing more than 15,000
lines and hundreds of genetic backgrounds showed
performance of Roundup RReady2Yield soybean lines
within the 7 to 11 percent range of increase over
comparable Roundup Ready lines in the same
development phase. This improved product produces
the same protein that has allowed soybean growers to
use Roundup® agricultural herbicides over the top of
their Roundup Ready soybeans and will continue to
provide the simple, dependable and flexible weed
control and crop safety that growers expect from
Monsanto’s Roundup Ready system.
Roundup RReady2Yield soybeans represent an important
base from which Monsanto will introduce its
portfolio of next-generation technologies in
soybeans – including dicamba tolerant and intrinsic
yield soybeans. Monsanto’s research in both breeding
and biotechnology, including technologies like
Roundup RReady2Yield, highlights one way the company
is supporting U.S. farmers as they meet the world’s
growing demand for food, feed and fuel. |
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of
technology-based solutions and agricultural products
that improve farm productivity and food quality.
Over the last two decades, Monsanto scientists have
focused on researching and delivering meaningful
products to our farmer customers and the broader
soybean value chain. Monsanto invests more than $700
million annually to identify and develop new
solutions for growers.
Roundup Ready and Roundup
RReady2Yield are trademarks and Roundup and Roundup Ready are
registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC.
