Monsanto For the Record

Sorting Out The Facts Behind Stacks

For over a decade, one choice that farmers consider when they select next year's seed is whether to use a "stack." Although every plant naturally contains thousands of genes and is a highly complex "stack," in this article we will focus just on genes that have been inserted into a seed using biotechnology. The new genes, which typically come from another plant or microbe, are inserted in order to convey a special characteristic or trait, like the ability to resist certain insects. These biotechnology trait "stacks" are now widely planted around the world.

The NewLeaf Potato

In 1995, Monsanto completed U.S. regulatory authorizations for NewLeaf™ potato, a Russet Burbank potato improved using biotechnology to provide protection from the Colorado potato beetle. Canadian authorization was completed in 1996.

Answering Department of Justice Questions

Monsanto has received questions from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) this year regarding competition in the seed industry. These questions come at a time when the DOJ and U.S. Department of Agriculture are studying the agricultural industry. We are answering these questions and will continue to do so.

Genuity™ Roundup Ready^® Sugarbeets

On September 21, 2009, U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey White ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will have to complete an Environmental Impact Statement for Roundup Ready sugarbeets. This ruling focused on the process used by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in deregulating Genuity™ Roundup Ready^® sugarbeets, and in no way questioned the safety or benefits of Genuity™ Roundup Ready^® sugarbeets. The judge ruled USDA will be required to prepare a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement. Until now, only the plaintiffs (Center for Food Safety, Organic Seed Alliance, Sierra Club and High Mowing Organic Seeds) and USDA had a direct role in the initial "merits" phase of the case. Growers, processors, seed companies and tech suppliers will be able to play a more active role in late October during the next phase of the proceedings. Judge White's decision has no immediate effect on growers producing biotech sugarbeets or on the processors. Genuity™ Roundup Ready^® sugarbeet growers may harvest their crops and process them as usual.

Food Safety

Opponents of GM crops often describe them as "untested" and "unsafe." This is simply untrue. To better illustrate this, we have broken the very broad question of GM crop safety into a number of sections that, together, better address the testing and safety of GM crops.

Innovation and the Competitive Seed Market

There has recently been increased attention to Monsanto’s role in the agricultural seed market. There is no question Monsanto is the recognized industry leader in biotech traits. Anti-biotech activists, and more recently our competition, have worked very hard to portray our success as resulting from anti-competitive behavior. Nothing could be further from the truth.

White Maize in South Africa

In recent weeks, some South African maize farmers have reported variations in pollination in three white maize hybrids sold by Monsanto during the 2008/2009 growing season. The three hybrids contain either Roundup Ready or the stack of Roundup Ready and YieldGard. In some cases, the variable pollination causes a reduction in the number of kernels.

HR 875: Monsanto's Dream Bill – Or Just an Internet Rumor?

In March 2009 a blog post entitled Monsanto's Dream Bill – HR 875 created some ripples in the blogosphere and beyond. Several newspapers and even a radio station have picked up on it, and Monsanto has gotten a number of emails and phone calls.

Do GM Crops Increase Yield?

Since the advent of biotechnology, there have been a number of claims from anti-biotechnology activists that genetically-modified (GM) crops don't increase yields. Some have claimed that GM crops actually have lower yields than non-GM crops.

Do Monsanto Corn Products Reduce Fertility in Mice?

On November 11, 2008 the Austrian Federal Ministry for Health, Family and Youth released a report on three studies assessing the impact of biotech corn on reproduction.