Monsanto Unveils First-Ever Triple-Stacked Herbicide Tolerant Cotton; Purchases Israeli Company

Monsanto

Monsanto is bolstering its cotton portfolio with two moves in the fiber industry this week. First, it unveiled the name of its triple-mode-of-action for herbicide tolerant cotton – Bollgard II Xtend Flex. The newest addition to the company’s Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System, Monsanto’s variety is pending regulatory approval and is expected to be released in the U.S. in time for the 2015 growing season. The trait will be available in the Deltapine brand of seed as well as available for select licensees.

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This move marks the first triple stack of herbicide-tolerant technologies in cotton, containing glyphosate-tolerant Genuity Roundup Ready Flex stacked with dicamba and glufosinate-tolerance.

“Bollgard II XtendFlex is built on existing technologies that farmers have grown to trust,” said Jordan Iverson, Monsanto’s cotton traits marketing manager. “Genuity Bollgard II provides the highest level of proven boll damage reduction, and 10 of the top 10 cotton varieties planted in the United States feature Genuity Roundup Ready Flex technology, according to U.S.D.A.’s 2012 data. By adding dicamba and glufosinate tolerance to an already-proven trait package, Monsanto provides farmers with an incredibly effective tool to manage resistant weeds.”

Last March, Monsanto announced the first three components of the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System: Roundup Ready 2 Xtend, Monsanto’s Genuity soybean product that contains tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate; an enhanced dicamba and glyphosate herbicide premix, to be branded as Roundup Xtend; and a stand-alone low-volatility dicamba formulation, to be branded as XtendiMax.

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In addition, Monsanto acquired Israeli plant bio-engineering company, Rosetta Green.

The Rehovot, Israel-based company develops improved plant traits using RNA technology, specializing in the identification of genes that drive key processes in major crops including cotton, corn, and soybeans.

“All of us at Rosetta Green are excited to being our work with Monsanto,” said Limor Zur-Stoller, Rosetta Green’s chief financial officer, in a statement. “Israel continues to emerge as a leader in cutting-edge technologies, and this is a great vote of confidence in our research work and scientists.”

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