Monsanto Pulls the Plug on Genetically Engineered
Potatoes

Monsanto Pulls Plug on NatureMark Spuds.

Major Processor McCain Against Selling GM Spuds. Monsanto Will Buy Back
Seed
http://www.ontariofarmer.com/ (by PETER RESCHKE Ontario Farmer 6/3/01)
Monsanto has decided to get out of the genetically modified
business for potatoes. Starting with the 2001 season, the company will
no longer market its NatureMark potato, the one that features a Bt
gene to help it ward off Colorado potato beetles.

Adele Pelland, the company's manager of public affairs, says Monsanto
will buy back any pre-commercial lead seed that growers have already
purchased. Common seed, which is currently held by a few growers,
can still be planted this year since the varieties are still registered, she says.

The announcement came "as kind of a surprise", says OMAFRA potato
specialist Eugenia Banks. She says seed growers received letters
announcing the decision a couple of weeks ago. Although the
genetically modified varieties Shepordy and Atlantic gave growers new
resistance against insects and disease, Banks says sales of the
varieties "were not very good." She says the varieties were
agronomically good but there was concern about consumer reaction,
which was heightened when One major processor, McCain, decided it
would no longer buy GMO spuds.

Pelland played down the antiGMO controversy and would only say that
Monsanto has been forced to concentrate its biotech resources in strategic
areas. From now on the company will be focusing on corn, oilseeds, wheat
and cotton. "We've had to scale back our activities with other crops," she says.
Shepordy had two resistance genes, one to combat Colorado potato beetles,
the Other against mosaic virus, Banks says. Atlantic only carried the Bt
gene against the beetles. END.