Monsanto's Genetically Engineered Protected Corn Approved by Brazil

On Friday, the Monsanto Company stated that the Brazilian National Biosafety Technical Committee (CTNBio) has given approval for the company's MON 810 insect protection event, called YieldGard(R) Corn Borer in the United States, for future commercial use in corn in Brazil.

Brazil has a complex process for regulating agricultural products and it is still not completed with respect to MON 810, but the CTNBio's verbal approval at this stage means new doors are opening for Brazilian farmers. 

CTNBio is under the aegis of Brazil's Ministry of Science and Technology and is responsible for making science-based, technical assessments of biotechnology crops, including commercial conditions of use. CTNBio's approval might be followed up with a review from the National Biosafety Council (CNBS) in order to examine social and economic ramifications of the use of MON 810.

Assuming a favorable review by CNBS and approvals of the individual MON 810 events in specific hybrid varieties, farmers will be able to achieve higher yields and lessen their use of pesticides with their use of the patented genetically modified seeds.

Brazil is third in the world in corn production; corn is the third most planted crop in the world.

MON 810 events express a naturally occurring protein which helps corn plants protect themselves from harmful insects' feeding, including that of the notorious corn borer.

Monsanto has faced the inevitable fears about the new science of GM foods (genetically modified foods) when trying to patent genetic crop technologies and get its products approved and distributed around the world.

The company has pulled more than one product from India on the grounds that it decided it couldn't make any money on them in that nation. The company endured spurious claims by Greenpeace that the organizations' lobbying of the Indian government forced Monsanto to withdraw one of its GM wheat products from commercial distribution.