G.M. Cotton Approved in U.S. as Natural Refuge Option

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved Syngenta Seeds’ VipCot cotton technology for use as a natural refuge option.

The report states: “This GM cotton contains the COT67B event that produces the Cry1Ab protein and the COT102 containing the Vip3A (vegetative insecticidal protein). The Vip3A has proven to give a broad spectrum control of lepidopteran pests including cotton bollworm, tobacco budworm and the entire army worm complex in several field trials conducted. It has been made as the platform for innovations in refuge for both corn and cotton with the EPA approving a 20 percent nationwide refuge, a reduction from the 50 percent traditionally required.”