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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Thursday its decision to deregulate two Monsanto genetically engineered (GE) seed varieties: a corn variety engineered to resist drought conditions and an herbicide-resistant soybean engineered to produce more fatty acids than regular soybeans.

Regulators legalized the seeds after reviewing risk assessments, public comments and data provided by Monsanto.

Monsanto is planning “on-farm trials” of drought-tolerant corn, known as MON 87460, during the upcoming planting season “to give farmers experience with the product” and generate commercial data, according to a statement from the company.

The corn contains a protein gene from a bacterium that reportedly limits yield loss when corn plants are stressed by drought conditions.

Earlier this year, Truthout exposed a controversial program in five African countries that involves putting Monsanto drought-tolerant corn in the hands of farmers facing drought conditions. The program is part of an effort funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is working to establish a “Second Green Revolution” in Africa.

Critics say such efforts could replace traditional and sustainable farming methods with American-style industrial agriculture and prevent African governments from effectively regulating GE crops.