EU Approves Roundup Ready Corn 2 for Food Use

This approval opens doors into European markets that had previously not accepted Roundup Ready Corn 2 and, therefore, increases the number of places where growers can sell their biotech grain, says John Jansen, Monsanto's Roundup Ready Corn 2 Marketing Manager.

Until recently, Roundup Ready Corn 2 single-traits hybrids were marketed under the Market Choices certification mark. The Market Choices certification mark, owned and licensed by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), identifies those technologies that are fully approved for food and feed use in the United States and Japan, but are currently lacking approval in the European Union.

Growers who planted Roundup Ready Corn 2 single-trait hybrids agreed to sell the grain to appropriate markets including domestic feed markets or to work with grain handlers who specifically agreed to buy the grain and handle it appropriately. Now, seed companies can discontinue the use of the Market Choices certification mark for Roundup Ready Corn 2 single-trait hybrids.

According to Jansen, the approval greatly expands the marketing opportunities for growers who planted Roundup Ready Corn 2 in 2004 and for growers considering using the weed-control system in 2005. Jansen suggests U.S. corn growers who planted Roundup Ready Corn 2 seed corn products contact their local grain handlers to learn more about their buying position.