Technology Sets New Industry Standard for Corn FarmersINDIANAPOLIS and ST. LOUIS, July 20 /CNW/ -- U.S. and Canadian farmers
are one step closer to realizing the greater whole farm corn yield advantages
of a new corn seed trait combination that will provide the most comprehensive
insect and weed control and allow farmers to significantly reduce their
refuge. These benefits will be realized through SmartStax(TM), which is the
outcome of a cross licensing agreement and research and development
collaboration signed in 2007 between Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) and Dow
AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:
DOW).
SmartStax, the agriculture industry's most advanced, all-in-one corn
trait platform, received registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and regulatory authorization from the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA) and remains on track for a 2010 commercial launch. SmartStax
combines each company's industry-leading corn traits to provide farmers the
absolute broadest spectrum of above- and below-ground protection available
against insects and weeds versus any product in the market today.
Using multiple modes of action for insect control is the state-of-the-art
proven means to reduce structured refuge and maintain long-term durability of
corn trait technologies. SmartStax uniquely features a combination of insect
control traits that significantly reduces the risk of resistance for both
above- and below-ground pests. As a result, the decisions by the EPA and CFIA
will allow reduction of the typical structured farm refuge from 20 percent to
5 percent for SmartStax in the U.S. Corn Belt and Canada, and from 50 percent
to 20 percent in the U.S. Cotton Belt.
As part of today's announcement, the companies noted that the new corn
seed technology is expected to be offered to farmers on 3 million- to
4-million-plus acres in its first year of availability. The product's launch
would represent the largest introduction of a corn biotech seed product in the
history of agriculture.
"Farmers are the real winners with SmartStax," said Robb Fraley, Monsanto
Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President. "The 5 percent refuge
for SmartStax will give farmers a tremendous advantage to increase whole farm
corn yield 5 to 10 percent. This is a key early step in our commitment to
helping farmers sustainably double yields by 2030 to meet the increasing
demands for grain for food, feed and fuel. This reduced refuge will be easier
for farmers and will further reduce insecticide use while reducing grower
risks and enhancing the long-term durability of the technology."
"The SmartStax technology developed by Dow AgroSciences and Monsanto will
help U.S. and Canadian corn farmers take corn production to the next level,"
said Jerome Peribere, Dow AgroSciences President and CEO. "By combining the
industry's leading seed traits, SmartStax protects against the broadest
spectrum of insect pests with the most consistent level of control available.
The multiple modes of action of SmartStax reduce the likelihood of insect
resistance, making possible a significant reduction in the refuge requirement.
Corn farmers who plant hybrids with SmartStax will benefit from increased
productivity due to improved pest protection and a reduced refuge."
"One of the great benefits of biotechnology is that it has enabled my son
and me to reduce the use of insecticides on our farm by 80 percent," said Leon
Corzine, a farmer who operates a fifth-generation corn and soybean farm with
his son in Assumption, Ill. "SmartStax corn will allow us to reduce our
insecticide use even further to 5 percent of our corn acres, while improving
insect control and our environmental footprint will be lowered. Additionally,
the lower refuge in the Corn Belt for SmartStax means I can better protect 15
percent more of my acres from potential yield loss."About SmartStaxSmartStax combines the industry's leading above- and below-ground insect
protection and herbicide-tolerant traits for the most yield protection
available to farmers:-- Above-ground insect control for protection against corn earworm,
European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, sugar cane borer, fall
armyworm, western bean cutworm and black cutworm: with Dow
AgroSciences' HERCULEX I Insect Protection technology and Monsanto's
VT PRO(TM), a second-generation, two-gene lepidopteran control product
contained in Genuity(TM) Triple PRO(TM).
-- Below-ground insect control for protection against Western, Northern
and Mexican corn rootworms: integrating Monsanto's YieldGard VT
Rootworm/RR2 technology with Dow AgroSciences' HERCULEX RW Insect
Protection technology.
-- Broad spectrum weed and grass control: bringing together Monsanto's
Roundup Ready 2 technology with Bayer CropScience's Liberty Link
herbicide tolerance.Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences will cross-license, under royalty-bearing
agreements, their respective above- and below-ground insect protection
systems, as well as the two leading weed control systems. Monsanto and Dow
AgroSciences will offer other seed companies access to SmartStax through
licenses whereby Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences will directly license their
respective component technologies. Monsanto will manage the licensing process
for itself and as an agent for Dow AgroSciences.
Consistent with both companies' commitment to follow the Biotechnology
Industry Organization's (BIO) Product Launch Stewardship Policy, Dow
AgroSciences and Monsanto are also working with the regulatory agencies in key
countries to have import approvals for SmartStax in place prior to the 2010
U.S. season. These regulatory submissions are on track to support
commercialization for the 2010 U.S. crop season.Dow AgroSciences Commercial PlansTwo years of pre-registration field trials conducted by Dow AgroSciences
shows that SmartStax provides a greater level of insect protection than corn
traits currently on the market. In corn rootworm trials during 2007 and 2008,
SmartStax more consistently protected plant roots from western corn rootworm
than first generation insect traits. Results of trials conducted by Dow
AgroSciences against the most prevalent above-ground pests show that SmartStax
prevents crop damage more effectively than either HERCULEX Insect Protection
or YieldGard VT PRO alone.
"SmartStax has been highly anticipated by the industry, and extensive Dow
AgroSciences research gives us confidence that the trait combination will
provide more value than current traits on the market through more consistent
insect control and reduced refuge," said Brent Stauffacher, SmartStax Product
Manager for Dow AgroSciences. "Dow AgroSciences will offer SmartStax in elite
hybrids with the latest genetics starting next season giving corn growers the
tools they need to improve crop yields."
SmartStax will be sold by Dow AgroSciences through its seed brands which
include Mycogen Seeds, Dairyland, Renze, Brodbeck, and Triumph.
Dow AgroSciences will use SmartStax as the platform to launch future
trait technologies including Dow AgroSciences Herbicide Tolerant Trait
technology and other agronomic enhancements. The technology is a new family of
traits being developed by Dow AgroSciences that will provide tolerance to
2,4-D and other classes of herbicides to provide growers with improved and
enhanced weed control versus current herbicide programs. Introduction to the
market is anticipated for 2012.
"Game changing trait technologies, such as SmartStax and Dow AgroSciences
Herbicide Tolerant technology, coupled with a significant investment in plant
breeding will deliver to corn growers the best trait technology in the latest
genetics," said Brian Barker, Global Business Leader for Corn Seeds and Traits
for Dow AgroSciences.Additional information
-- Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences will host a joint investor conference
call at 4:30 p.m. (Central Time). To register for this conference
call,
please visit the company Web sites at www.monsanto.com and
www.dow.com.
-- Both companies have posted additional information related to today's
announcement on their respective company Web sites. Interested parties
can access these on Monsanto's Web site at
www.monsanto.com/genuitysmartstax, and on The Dow Chemical Company Web
site at www.dow.com.
About MonsantoMonsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based
solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food
quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-
scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our
world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our
business and our commitments, please visit: http://www.monsanto.com.About Dow AgroSciencesDow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a top-tier
agricultural company that combines the power of science and technology with
the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress.
Dow AgroSciences provides innovative technologies for crop protection, pest
and vegetation management, seeds, traits, and agricultural biotechnology to
serve the world's growing population. Global sales for Dow AgroSciences, a
wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, are $4.5 billion. Learn
more at www.dowagro.com.SmartStax(TM) multi-event technology developed by Dow AgroSciences and
Monsanto.SmartStax, the SmartStax Logo, Genuity VT PRO, YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2,
VT PRO, Acceleron and Roundup Ready are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC.
DEKALB is a registered trademark of Dekalb Genetics Corp.
HERCULEX Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer
Hi-Bred. HERCULEX is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC.Liberty Link is a registered trademark of Bayer CropScience.
Forward-Looking Statements:Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking
statements, such as statements concerning the companies' future product
performance, regulatory approvals, business and financial plans and other
non-historical facts. These statements are based on current expectations and
currently available information. However, since these statements are based on
factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the companies' actual
performance and results may differ materially from those described or implied
by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to
such differences include, among others: the success of the companies' research
and development activities; the costs of and the companies' abilities to
access and enforce intellectual property needed for the collaboration; the
costs and requirements of regulatory compliance and the speed with which
approvals are received; public acceptance of biotechnology products; and other
risks and factors detailed in the companies' most recent periodic report to
the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking
statements, which are current only as of the date of this presentation. The
companies disclaim any current intention or obligation to update any
forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual
results.
For further information: Robyn Heine of Dow AgroSciences,
+1-317-337-4807, or Mimi Ricketts of Monsanto, +1-314-694-5703 Web Site:
http://www.dow.com
