First Five-Gene Trait Stack Technology from Dow AgroSciences Approved in Brazil

The newest and most effective technology for corn insect control will soon be available to Brazilian corn growers. The technology, known as POWERCORE™, will be offered by Dow AgroSciences and is the first five-gene trait stack technology to be approved by the Brazilian National Biosafety Technical Commission (CTNBio) for sale in Brazil. This new trait stack controls major Brazilian corn insect pests, offers tolerance to glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides and is expected to be available to Brazilian corn growers sometime in 2012. POWERCORE is the outcome of a cross-licensing agreement and research and development collaboration between Monsanto Company and Dow AgroSciences.

“We are working to incorporate this new technology into our high yield and productive corn hybrids soon, making the work of the Brazilian corn grower more convenient, productive, and economical,” said Rolando Alegria, Dow AgroSciences Director for Seeds in Brazil.

POWERCORE is highly effective against some of the most devastating corn insect pests which are capable of significantly reducing productivity. POWERCORE controls Spodoptera frugiperda, Helicoverpa zea, Diatraea saccharalis, Agrotis ipsilon, and soil pest Elasmopalpus lignosellus. This trait package provides broad spectrum and robust insect control using multiple modes of action from multiple genes -- the first five-gene combination available in Brazil.

“The new POWERCORE™ technology from Dow AgroSciences will be an important differential for the grower, and will provide more productive and healthier crops,” said Alegria. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global food production will have to increase by 50 percent in the next 40 years to meet the world’s growing demands. Technologies like POWERCORE will help Brazilian corn growers meet the growing global food demands to help feed the world.

POWERCORE is a technology that helps to avoid yield losses caused by major insect pests and weeds while using previously cultivated land in the best, most productive way,” added Alegria.