NFU welcomes Monsanto's RR1 plans but calls for broader biotech action

NFU welcomes Monsanto's RR1 plans but calls for broader biotech action

By Jon H. Harsch

© Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.

Washington, July 9 – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson sees Monsanto's continuing support for its Roundup Ready® soybean trait (RR1) as “ a positive first step.” But he wants broader protections for biotech seeds, explaining that:

“Monsanto's statement of extending international regulatory support for RR1 soybeans until 2021is appreciated but there is more to the process of biotech patenting and planning in order to obtain a proper result.

“While this is a positive first step NFU does not believe that this is the sole answer to a timely and enforceable mechanism to ensure that generic competition arrives in biotech seeds as soon as the RR1 patent expires.

“Because the patent for these soybeans expires in 2014, the immediate development of generic-based products or timely access to regulatory data, so that new seeds containing the generic version of RR1 needs to be available to farmers in 2015.

“What Monsanto has outlined does not solve the whole problem of pre and post patent issues. A strategic plan must allow for the empowerment of more readily available development in the biotech industry. It is important to realize that all patented biotech traits face this issue and the non binding agreement Monsanto has mentioned only works with one.

“NFU will continue to work for a process to guarantee generic trait availability.”

To read Monsanto's two-page letter sent to farm organizations regarding RR1 soybeans, go to: www.agri-pulse.com/uploaded/Monsanto_RR1_8Jul10.pdf