The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has deregulated the second generation Roundup Ready® soybean called Roundup RReady2Yield(tm), also known as event MON 89788, which Monsanto anticipates bringing to the U.S. market in 2009. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already approved Roundup RReady2Yield soybeans for human and animal consumption. The completion of U.S. regulatory processes is a necessary step toward obtaining approvals in some export markets around the globe. The Canadian government has also granted full approval for the planting of this new soybean trait in Canada.
"Soybean producers welcome the development of new biotech-enhanced soybean varieties," said American Soybean Association (ASA) PresidentJohn Hoffman. "It is my understanding that Roundup RReady2Yield soybeans will offer a 7-11% yield advantage over first-generation Roundup Ready beans, while providing the same tolerance to the Roundup herbicides we are now using to manage weeds. Higher soybean yields increase the ability of U.S. soybean growers to supply food, feed and fuel markets domestically and around the globe. ASA will continue to monitor the progress being made on global regulatory reviews and approvals."