Print This PageGenuity™ SmartStax™ Corn Receives Regulatory Approvals
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Genuity™ SmartStax™ corn—the agriculture industry’s most advanced, all-in-one corn trait system—is one step closer to farmers’ fields, and it’s bringing reduced refuge acres with it.
Genuity™ SmartStax™ corn, which is a key early step in Monsanto’s commitment to sustainably doubling yields by 2030, received registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on July 20, 2009. The product remains on track for a 2010 commercial launch. The decisions also include a reduction of the typical farm refuge requirements for farmers who plant the technology.
This is good news for farmers. In Canada and the U.S. Corn Belt, refuge acres have been reduced from 20 percent to 5 percent, and in the Cotton Belt from 50 percent to 20 percent—giving farmers the opportunity for greater yield advantage on more acres.
What are the benefits for U.S. farmers?
The absolute broadest spectrum of above- and below-ground insect protection and weed control available in the market today means greater peace of mind for farmers who plant Genuity™ SmartStax™ corn. This revolutionary corn technology combines multiple Bt proteins to provide season-long yield protection in three areas:
- Above-ground insect control combines Dow AgroSciences’ proven HERCULEX® Insect Protection technology with Monsanto’s second-generation above-ground insect protection, Genuity™ VT Triple PRO™. With these two technologies, Genuity™ SmartStax™ corn will provide superior protection against the broadest spectrum of above-ground insects, including corn earworm, European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, sugar cane borer, fall armyworm, western bean cutworm and black cutworm.
- Below-ground insect control combines Monsanto’s YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2 technology with Dow AgroSciences’ HERCULEX® RW Insect Protection technology for the most consistent protection against Western, Northern and Mexican corn rootworms.
- Broad-spectrum weed and grass control combines Monsanto’s industry-leading Roundup Ready® 2 technology with Bayer CropSciences’ LibertyLink® herbicide tolerance. Genuity™ SmartStax™ corn weed control systems combine a superior spectrum of weed and grass control with the option of two broad-spectrum modes of action over the top.
Farmers are assured maximum crop performance potential because Genuity™ SmartStax™ will also be treated with Monsanto’s proprietary Acceleron™ seed treatment product. The Acceleron seed treatment product for Genuity™ SmartStax™ corn is designed to improve plant health and promote better stand throughout the growing season. The Acceleron seed treatment product is also designed to control secondary insects and major seed and seedling diseases.
How many farmers are going to see these benefits in their fields?
This new corn seed technology is expected to be launched on more than 3 to 4 million acres in 2010. Genuity™ SmartStax™ will be broadly available across Monsanto’s three corn seed channels: its national brand DEKALB, regional brands, and licensees through its Corn States business.
