Following an injunction by US Federal Court against use of GMO sugar beet seed this season because USDA had not proved that the organism was environmentally, sugar beet growers were in a panic. The reason was lack of sufficient supply of non gmo seed to meet spring planting needs. To alleviate the situation USDA late Friday gave farmers partial approval to plant bioengineered sugar beet seeds this year as a temporary interim measure until the agency completes a more thorough study expected to take about a year. Growers will have to enter into a compliance agreement outlining mandatory requirements for how the crop may be grown, although restrictions were not yet detailed. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, after conducting an environmental assessment, determined the bioengineered sugar beet seeds may be partially deregulated without posing a plant pest risk or having a significant effect on the environment. About 95% of U.S. sugar beet acreage was planted to Monsanto’s Roundup Ready sugar beet seeds in 2010.

UkrAgroConsult