February 26, 2003

Monsanto Company says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a registration for the company's new YieldGard rootworm insect-protected corn technology -- allowing commercialization of the first biotech corn designed to control the corn rootworm pest for the 2003 planting season.

YieldGard rootworm corn contains a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a common soil microbe that specifically targets corn rootworm larvae, allowing the corn plant to naturally protect its roots against the damaging corn rootworm. The corn rootworm has earned the nickname the "billion-dollar bug" as USDA estimates that this pest causes $1 billion in lost revenue annually to the U.S. corn crop.

"In the past, we've had to spray up to three insecticides in a single growing season to control this pest. So, we are very excited about having the type of technology that can have this rootworm resistance built within the plant itself," says Kevin Penny, a corn grower from Burlington, Colorado.

With regulatory reviews complete in both the United States and Japan -- a key export market for U.S. corn growers -- Monsanto said it is the first company to commercialize a biotechnology product designed to combat the corn rootworm.

For 2003, the YieldGard rootworm trait will be available in corn hybrids sold through Monsanto's branded seed businesses -- DEKALB and Asgrow -- as well as through licensed, independent seed companies.

Research conducted at academic field trial locations during the past three years has shown that YieldGard Rootworm corn was more consistent in controlling rootworm damage than the best performing insecticide.

The EPA's decision completes an extensive assessment process for YieldGard rootworm corn that included evaluation of the numerous safety studies conducted on the product, examination of commercial-level environmental impacts and an assessment of stewardship practices, including insect resistance management.

In granting the registration for YieldGard Rootworm corn, EPA determined it posed no adverse human health or environmental safety concerns.