Dow Says Will Not License First-Generation Roundup Ready Soybean Trait

Posted by Jackie Pucci|2 February 2015

Dow AgroSciences said Enlist will not be stacked with the first generation of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready trait for soybeans, but only “more advanced” traits. The company’s Enlist soybeans, which are engineered to tolerate both glyphosate and 2,4-D, are set to go on sale next year.

The market continues to move to advanced glyphosate traits since they were introduced because they have been “proven to outperform the original Roundup Ready trait,” Dow said, adding that technology with newer glyphosate traits, including Roundup Ready 2 Yield and Enlist E3 soybeans, show no yield drag or lag.

Dow AgroSciences has been hosting Enlist technology field days and meetings to discuss licensing the Enlist family of traits. Staff from seed companies who sell more than 85% of the independent seed company soybean units have attended those events and expressed great interest in licensing the technology, driven largely by the need in the marketplace and grower demand, according to Dow. Two independent seed companies, Stine Seed Company and Merschman Seeds, Inc. have given their commitment to sell Enlist E3 soybeans. Other leading soybean seed companies have expressed high interest as well, Dow said.

“We’ve taken a close look at Enlist, and we like what we see,” says Joseph H. Merschman, president and founder, Merschman Seeds, Inc. “It’s a first-class technology. The herbicide is the full package — great weed control and it’s designed to stay where you put it. The traits perform very well and protect the crop. And the germplasm is high quality. That’s the kind of product we want to offer to our growers.”

“Enlist soybeans with Roundup Ready 2 Yield and Enlist E3 soybeans — which feature an advanced glyphosate technology owned by MS Technologies — are our chosen trait platforms moving forward,” says Damon Palmer, Marketing Director, U.S. Seeds, Dow AgroSciences. “Without question, these are the best trait packages coming to market. Growers should know they can farm with confidence with the Enlist system.”