St. Louis, Missouri
December 4, 2008
Another key regulatory milestone
has been achieved as one of the most anticipated U.S. soybean
technologies approaches commercialization.
Monsanto Company
announced today it has received regulatory approval in the
European Union for the importation of Roundup Ready 2 Yield™
soybeans. This approval follows the European Food Safety
Authority's positive scientific opinion in July concluding
Roundup Ready 2 Yield is safe for import as food and feed.
The European Union imports accounted for approximately 10
percent of U.S. soybean exports in 2007, making it a significant
purchaser of U.S. soybeans.
"The European Union regulatory approval demonstrates the growing
acceptance of Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans throughout the
world," said Brett Begemann, Monsanto's executive vice president
of global commercial business. "As we look to deliver on our
commitment to double yield by 2030, Roundup Ready 2 Yield is
critical. This trait is important not only for its weed control
and yield benefits, but because it serves as the platform for
future soybean technologies that will deliver additional value
to farmers and others."
Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans are the next generation of the
popular Roundup Ready® technology farmers have used in soybeans
since 1996. This product offers the same effective weed control,
simplicity and flexibility benefits of the Roundup Ready system
and it significantly increases soybean yield potential.
In four years of testing, Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans have
demonstrated a consistent yield advantage of 7 to 11 percent
over Roundup Ready soybeans. The four-year average yield
increase of Roundup Ready 2 Yield over its first-generation
counterpart was 9 percent. On Tuesday, Monsanto expects to
release 2008 field performance data as part of Chief Technology
Officer Robb Fraley's presentation at the Canaccord Adams
Conference in Toronto.
Monsanto's Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans will be introduced on
1 million to 2 million U.S. acres for the 2009 season as part of
a controlled commercial release, followed by a large-scale
product launch of 5 million to 6 million U.S. acres scheduled
for 2010.
Such approvals are important for ensuring successful
biotechnology product launches, as they allow U.S. farmers to
more broadly market their grain. Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans
have been approved as safe for food and feed in 10 countries and
regions -- the United States, Australia, Canada, China, the
European Union, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines and
Taiwan. These countries and regions import the vast majority of
U.S. soybean exports, providing U.S. farmers access to a broad
market for their grain.
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of
technology-based solutions and agricultural products that
improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains
focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to
produce more from their land while conserving more of our
world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn
more about our business and our commitments, please visit:
http://www.monsanto.com.
Monsanto Company is a member of BIO's Excellence Through
Stewardship(SM)
(ETS) Initiative. This product has been commercialized in
compliance with the ETS and Monsanto Product Launch Stewardship
policies, after meeting applicable regulatory requirements in
key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop
or material produced from this product can only be exported to,
or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary
regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of
national and international law to move material containing
biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is
not permitted. Monsanto encourages growers to talk to their
grain handler to confirm their buying position for this product.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup
Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate,
the active ingredient in Roundup® agricultural herbicides.
Roundup® agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not
tolerant to glyphosate. Roundup Ready 2 Yield™ is a trademark of
Monsanto Technology LLC. |
|