Monsanto Co. (MON), the world's biggest vegetable seed maker, said it will begin selling genetically modified sweet corn in the US this year, the first product it has developed for the consumer market.
The sweet corn seeds are engineered to kill insects living above and below ground and to tolerate applications of the company’s Roundup herbicide, Consuelo Madere, Monsanto vice president for vegetables, told reporters at company headquarters in St. Louis. They will be introduced to growers serving the U.S. fresh corn market starting in the autumn, she said.
Monsanto produces a wide range of seeds and develops biotechnology traits that assist farmers in controlling insects and weeds as well as provides other seed companies with genetic material and biotechnology traits for their seed brands. Now, the company has developed its first product for the consumer market.
The Creve Coeur-based company said the corn would be available in limited markets, but did not specify where. The corn will be sold under the Seminis brand, which Monsanto purchased in 2005.
The company, however, will not use the Monsanto brand to advertise the new line of sweet corn.
Though this is Monsanto's first biotech vegetable launch, Madere said other companies have already brought genetically altered vegetables to market and she did not anticipate significant consumer backlash.
"This is our first launch. We think it is a good product and we'll work to make sure we educate folks to the benefits," she said.
Monsanto produces a wide range of seeds and develops biotechnology traits that assist farmers in controlling insects and weeds as well as provides other seed companies with genetic material and biotechnology traits for their seed brands. Now, the company has developed its first product for the consumer market.
The Creve Coeur-based company said the corn would be available in limited markets, but did not specify where. The corn will be sold under the Seminis brand, which Monsanto purchased in 2005.
The company, however, will not use the Monsanto brand to advertise the new line of sweet corn.
Though this is Monsanto's first biotech vegetable launch, Madere said other companies have already brought genetically altered vegetables to market and she did not anticipate significant consumer backlash.
"This is our first launch. We think it is a good product and we'll work to make sure we educate folks to the benefits," she said.
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