Monsanto: November Trials For Drought-Resistant Corn

Avatar for Matt Hopkins By Andrea Klosterman Harris|6 November 2007

The drought-tolerant seeds are bred so that the plant is not only able to better tolerate the absence of water, but also to use more efficiently the water they do get. Monsanto calculates that 30% of South African corn is at risk of failure due to drought, the greatest threat to crop failures.

Over 55% of seeds sold to farmers for next season are GM varieties; Monsanto projects a rapid increase to 75%. Following corn trials, the company intends to introduce the drought-tolerant genes into soybeans and cotton, expected to be market-released early next decade.