China Clears Monsanto Soybeans, Drought Tolerance Trait
17 June 2013 
Monsanto said that the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture approved Intacta RR2 PROTM soybeans, as well as its drought tolerance trait, MON 87460.
The company said that China’s approval of Intacta RR2 PROTM soybeans signals its preparation of the full-scale launch of the same soybeans in Brazil for the upcoming crop season. Monsanto said the technology represents “one of the most significant growth drivers in its global portfolio,” and it expects them to be grown on more than 100 million acres across South America.
A major importer of U.S. corn grain and dried distillers grain solubles, China also granted full regulatory import authorization of Monsanto’s biotechnology trait in its Genuity DroughtGard Hybrids.
The approval means the grain stewardship requirements on U.S. farmers will now be removed, so the grain will no longer be required to remain in the domestic market. U.S. growers who had purchased the hybrids for planting in 2013 agreed to use the grain as on-farm feed or to sell it for domestic use only.
“With full import approvals in key export markets, farmers can market their grain more broadly this year and plant with confidence in 2014,” said Lisa Safarian, U.S. Row Crops Lead for Monsanto.
The Genuity DroughtGard Hybrids system is designed to help the corn plant use less water when drought stress occurs. “This improved hydro-efficiency creates the opportunity to conserve soil moisture and can help reduce yield loss from drought conditions,” it said.
Paving the Way for Brazilian Launch
“This approval [of Intacta RR2 PROTM soybeans in China] represents a significant milestone for Brazilian farmers and our company, and showcases the next wave of innovation that is poised to drive the decade of the soybean at Monsanto,” said Brett Begemann, Monsanto’s president and chief commercial officer. “Importantly, the introduction of Intacta RR2 PROTM brings a new choice in insect control and convenience to Brazilian farmers, and creates the opportunity to expand our soybean platform as we accelerate innovation in this core crop.”
Along with Monsanto, multiple South American seed companies are anticipated to launch Intacta RR2 PRO this coming season, the company said.
Intacta RR2 PRO protects against the velvetbean caterpillar, soybean looper, bean shoot borer, bollworm, corn stalk borer and Helicoverpa as well as provides tolerance to glyphosate.
Monsanto expects field trials for Intacta RR2 PRO in Argentina in fiscal year 2014, with a commercial launch expected in fiscal 2015. It is currently developing the second- and third-generation of Intacta RR2 PROTM.
(For more information like this on the Americas, register for the 2013 Farm Chemicals International Trade Summit in Miami this August 5-7.)
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