ST. LOUIS, Aug. 23, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is pleased with today's announcement that Syngenta's Agrisure Rootworm trait (MIR 604) received approvals from the Japanese government. However NCGA reminds growers to adhere to their stewardship agreements when harvesting their grain.
Syngenta announced today that Agrisure RW now has full approval in the United States, Canada, and Japan, and import approval in Australia and New Zealand.
"One of the real wins in this is that U.S. corn can continue to flow freely to our major export market, and there will be no new testing procedures for our markets or our growers," says NCGA President Ken McCauley.
Throughout the past year McCauley says NCGA worked with growers, industry and Japan. "We kept growers informed on the status of this approval, continued outreach with industry and the specifics of our biotechnology policy, and kept lines of communication open with the Japanese, which means the grain can flow freely," he explains.
The regulatory process is time-consuming, says Martin Barbre, chairman of NCGA's Biotechnology Working Group. "NCGA and other members of the industry have worked together to address all questions the Japanese had," he says. "We appreciate the close cooperation and open communication that resulted in resolving all the issues surrounding Agrisure RW's approval, and look forward to continuing a close working relationship with the Japanese."
Japan is the United States' largest corn importer.
When Agrisure RW was approved in the United States, Syngenta required growers to participate in a comprehensive stewardship program to ensure the grain would remain in domestic markets. While Agrisure RW grain can now be accepted by elevators exporting grain to Japan, Syngenta will continue to implement the grain stewardship program with growers through the end of 2007. In 2008, Agrisure RW will be part of the seed industry's Market Choices grain direction program.
McCauley reminds growers to keep informed about the export status of all their crops. The NCGA Know Before You Grow Program includes information on the regulatory status of corn from more than 70 seed companies.
"We need to take every precaution to make sure our products are sold to the appropriate markets," cautions McCauley. "That means growers should contact their buyers to ensure they are accepting grain from Agrisure RW hybrids."
The National Corn Growers Association's mission is to create and increase opportunities for corn growers. NCGA represents more than 32,000 members and 47 affiliated state organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs. For more information on NCGA, log on to www.ncga.com.