Brasilia, Brazil
December 11, 2008
DuPont business
Pioneer Hi-Bred and
Dow AgroSciences LLC, a
wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, today
announced that they have received regulatory approval granted by
the Brazilian National Commission on Biosafety, CTNBio, for
cultivation of the Herculex® I insect protection trait in
Brazil. The Herculex® I trait is the only biotechnology trait
that provides the highest level of protection available to
Brazilian growers against fall armyworm and sugarcane borer,
which can devastate Brazilian corn yields.
“Today’s approval is a tremendous win for everyone in the value
chain,” said Paul E. Schickler, Pioneer president and DuPont
vice president and general manager. “Brazilian growers win with
higher yields and less inputs, seed suppliers win with greater
revenue potential from this high-value trait and grain buyers
win because they will get a more consistent supply of
high-quality grain.”
Herculex® I offers season-long control against a broad spectrum
of insect pests which feed on Brazilian corn, including fall
armyworm and sugarcane borer. The registration of Herculex® I
will allow farmers to use it as part of an integrated pest
management system to attain higher yields of quality grain with
fewer pesticide applications per year.
“This approval provides growers in Brazil – the third-largest
corn producing nation in the world – with a wider range of
enhanced crop protection technologies and offers greater
opportunities for them to compete in the global market,” said
Antonio Galindez, Dow AgroSciences vice president, Crops Global
Business Unit. “Herculex® I, our first transgenic corn offering
in Brazil, also is approved for cultivation in the United
States, Canada and Argentina and is authorized for food and feed
uses in major grain-importing nations such as Japan, Korea and
Mexico.”
Brazil’s approval brings to six, the number of countries that
have approved 1507 for cultivation. In Europe, Herculex I -
known by its reference “1507” - is awaiting EU approval for
cultivation since 2001. “After receiving three positive safety
opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), we urge
the EU to approve 1507 for cultivation so that EU farmers have
access to the same technology as farmers elsewhere around the
world” concluded Schickler.
Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer formed a research collaboration in
1995 to develop insect resistant traits for themselves and for
out-licensing. Herculex® I was launched in the United States in
2003. While the two companies jointly developed the traits, they
are marketing them separately. Dow AgroSciences is responsible
for all out-licensing.
Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Ind., USA, is a
top-tier agricultural company that combines the power of science
and technology to constantly improve what is essential to human
progress. Dow AgroSciences provides innovative technologies for
crop protection, pest and vegetation management, seeds, traits
and agricultural biotechnology to serve the world's growing
population. Global sales for Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned
subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, were $3.8 billion in
2007. Dow AgroSciences markets grain corn, sweet corn and seed
for other important Brazilian markets including sorghum,
sunflower and healthy oils through Dow AgroSciences Sementes &
Biotecnologia and Agromen Tecnologia brands. Learn more at
www.dowagro.com.
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world’s leading
source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers
and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des
Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics
in nearly 70 countries.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded
in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable
solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for
people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont
offers a wide range of innovative products and services for
markets including agriculture and food; building and
construction; communications; and transportation.
Herculex® Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and
Pioneer Hi-Bred.
® Herculex and the HX logo are registered trademarks of Dow
AgroSciences LLC.
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