The Herculex RW trait (a BT gene), developed by Dupont-owned Pioneer and Dow AgroSciences, is said to dramatically reduce the emergence of adult western, northern and Mexican rootworm by protecting against the larvae.
Rootworm damage currently costs US corn growers some $1bn a year. According to gmo-safety.eu, the western variety of the beetle made the trip across the Atlantic in the early 1990s and has since ravaged crops in countries including Italy, Germany, France and the UK. Its preferred mode of transport seems to be the airplane, since occurrence is particularly high in the vicinity of airports.
Although the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) opinion does not constitute the green light for grain containing Herculex RW to be imported into Europe, it is being regarded as a major advancement - and an additional tick in the box marked 'safe'.
"We are optimistic about bringing this novel technology to the EU market in the very near future," said Dupont VP and Pioneer general manager Dean Oestreich.
The EU now has three months to forward its safety decision to member states for a vote.
The trait received regulatory approval for cultivation in the US in 2005 and the first corn hybrids were available for the 2006 growing season.
To date it has been approved for import for food and feed use in ten countries around the world: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Philippines, Taiwan and the US itself.
