Monsanto Seeks Genuity VT Double Pro Corn RIB Registration

Matt Hopkins Posted by Matt Hopkins|29 June 2010

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, US — Monsanto Co. has submitted for registration to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a 5% refuge-in-the-bag (RIB) option for its Genuity VT Double PRO corn, the company announced in a press release. The RIB option would enable US farmers to plant one bag that contains both Bt seed and refuge seed, without having to maintain a separate refuge. EPA is also currently reviewing Monsanto’s RIB application for Genuity SmartStax corn, which the company submitted in Dec. 2009. Pending registrations, Monsanto expects both RIB product options to be commercially available to US corn belt farmers for the 2012 growing season.

The dual modes of action in Genuity VT Double PRO (MON 89034 × NK603) provide protection from the European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, fall armyworm, and corn earworm, while offering tolerance to Roundup agricultural herbicides. The technology is the first dual mode of action product on the market to include a reduced structured refuge option at 5% in the corn belt for above-ground pests.

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