| Authorisation
given to AgrEvo to conduct field trials with transgenic rice in Brazil |
Berlin, Germany
December 11, 1998
AgrEvo has obtained permission from the Brazilian
registration authority to grow herbicide tolerant rice in field trials. The objective
being to test the outcrossing behaviour of paddy rice which is tolerant to the AgrEvo
herbicide Liberty(R).
Libertyâ can be used in the application concept LibertyLink(R), the combination of the
herbicide Libertyâ with seeds tolerant to the herbicide by genetic modification. Due to
this technology it is possible for the rice grower to have selective and
environmently-friendly weed management.
20 % of the paddy rice harvest is lost per year in Brazil due to red rice, which is a
generically related grass weed, causing economic damage of 270 million US$, equivalent to
1.3 million tonnes of rice. Dr. Pedro Barcellos Chaves, Director of Development and
Research of the Rice
Institute Rio Gradense, one of the most significant rice institutes in the world, said
"depending on the cultivated area the infestation with red rice in some cases can be
so severe that it is not possible to grow crop rice. The herbicide Liberty is a very
effective product for the control of the grass weed red rice."
Brazil is one of the greatest rice importers in the world. Approximately 2 million tonnes
of rice are imported every year as was in 1998. For Brazil, the field trials with
genetically modified rice crops are a step towards independence from imports.
AgrEvo ist a global player in Biotechnology, Seeds, Crop Protection and Environmental
Health. The company markets a wide range of products for enhancing crop production,
together with applications for urban pest control. AgrEvo operates in more than 70
countries with approx. 8500
employees. Sales for 1997 were DM 4,1 billion.N1511 |
| . |
|
