Bayer CropScience has applied to the US EPA for an experimental use permit (EUP) to test genetically modified insect-resistant cotton combining the events in its TwinLink line and Syngenta’s VipCot line. The EUP would cover T304-40xGHB119xCOT102xCOT67B, which expresses the Bt Cry1Ab, Cry2Ae, Vip3Aa19 and mCry1Ab toxins, respectively. The cotton is resistant to a range of lepidopteran pests. The EUP would cover 12,210 acres (4,941 ha), of which 2,035 acres would be Bt cotton, in 12 states and ...

DuPont seed subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International has received approval from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for its genetically modified insect-resistant “refuge-in-a-bag” (RIB) maize, Optimum AcreMax XTreme. It combines all above- and below-ground pest control and refuge requirements in a single bag, the company points out. Each bag of seed blends 95% of DuPont/Dow AgroSciences’ Herculex Xtra (DAS59122xTC1507) pyramided with Monsanto’s YieldGard Corn Borer (MON810) and Syngenta’s ...

The US EPA has extended the registrations of Monsanto/Dow AgroSciences’ genetically modified insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant SmartStax maize and the refuge-in-a-bag (RIB) versions until November 30th 2013. SmartStax provides resistance to above- and below-ground pests and is tolerant to the herbicides, glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium. It was approved by the EPA in 2009 (Agrow No 573, p 23). RIB versions comprising 95% SmartStax seed and 5% non-Bt seed were approved earlier this year ...

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has recommended the approval of food products derived from Syngenta’s genetically modified insect-resistant 5307 maize. The maize produces the Bt eCry3.1Ab toxin for the control of corn rootworms (Diabrotica spp). Syngenta has applied for approval in the US and Canada (Agrow No 620, p 14). It plans to stack 5307 maize with its Agrisure Viptera and Agrisure RW lines as Agrisure Viptera 3222. A refuge-in-a-bag version, Agrisure Viptera 3222 E-Z Refuge, ...

Monsanto has added three genetically modified insect-resistant and/or herbicide-tolerant crops to its high impact technology (HIT) list of development projects and expanded the criteria for HIT status. GM products must have the potential to be planted on more than 45 million acres (18 million ha) and to achieve sales of $300 million in their launch market by 2020 to gain the HIT rating. Products with HIT status will be accorded more resources for regulatory work and seed production to enable ...

In a preliminary ruling, the German Braunschweig Administrative Court has denied Monsanto ’s bid to overturn the ban on the cultivation of its EU-approved genetically modified insect-resistant MON810 maize. Monsanto appealed to the Court last month after Germany banned the maize line that was being grown in the country since 2005 (Agrow No 566, p 15). The Court ruled that the ban was justified, saying that a preliminary assessment showed the plant was raising a potential danger, reports ...