Monsanto and Dow Chemical Team Up to Produce SmartStax Corn Seed

Monsanto and Dow Chemical Team Up to Produce SmartStax Corn Seed

From Bloomberg

The approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency permits most farmers in the two countries to reduce their so-called refuge of conventional corn to 5 percent of biotech acres, from 20 percent, St. Louis-based Monsanto and Midland, Michigan-based Monsanto said today in a statement. The companies expect as many as 4 million acres will be planted with the new seed next year.

“The 5 percent refuge for SmartStax will give farmers a tremendous advantage to increase whole-farm corn yield 5 to 10 percent,” said Monsanto CTO Robb Fraley.

With the human population quickly reaching the limit of current food production capacity, this breakthrough is sure to give us more time before we are forced to emigrate from Earth.