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[DewDiligence]

Brazil Approves Herbicide-Resistant Soy from BASF/Embrapa

[Embrapa is the commonly used name of The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, whose function is similar to the USDA’s.]

http://www.reuters.com/article/idAFN1125312920091211

›SAO PAULO, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Brazilian authorities have approved the use of a new genetically-modified soy seed which was developed jointly by BASF and state agricultural researchers in the world's No. 2 soy exporter.

The soy is tolerant of imidazoline-based herbicides [e.g. BASF’s ‘Plateau’ brand] and it is the first genetically-modified seed ever to be approved by Brazil's CTNBio biosecurity commission that was developed with the participation of a government entity.

BASF said it plans to launch the seed in the 2011/12 soy season meaning it would be sown for the first time around October 2011.

The firm supplied the modified gene and researchers [at] Embrapa inserted it into the soy's genetic material. BASF and Embrapa have been partners since 1997.

Currently the only GMO soy available in Brazil is Monsanto's glyphosate herbicide-resistant Roundup Ready.‹