A third generation of soybeans that will succeed Intacta are already being tested by Monsanto in Brazil. Approved by CTNBio (National Biosafety Technical Commission), the new technology will expand the spectrum of caterpillar control and also offer two modes of action for herbicides. The information was revealed by the president of Monsanto for Latin America, Rodrigo Santos, at a press conference at the Global Agribusiness Forum #GAFTalks2017.
“We are working to launch the third generation of soybeans in Brazil. It is already a Post-Intact technology, but it does not yet have a commercial name. We are already testing in Brazil and part of this technology has already been approved by CTNBio. It expands the spectrum of caterpillar control and has two modes of action for herbicides, in addition to high production potential. This is very important for regions like Rio Grande do Sul, which has resistant weed plants,” he said.
The executive explains that this third generation expands pest control to cover spodopteran caterpillars: “Brazil, due to tropical agriculture, has up to nine cycles of caterpillars. That's very high selection pressure. The adoption of agricultural practices such as refuge, sanitary emptiness, crop rotation, direct planting, is fundamental – and thus we will have a very great potential for sustainability. One technology is not the solution, there has to be integrated pest management.”
Rodrigo Santos also said that Monsanto works with the third generation of cotton to control caterpillars, called Bollgard 3 RR Flex, which also has weed management. In corn, the company develops combined protection for the shoot and root, in addition to two modes of action for herbicides.
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