MON 88302

MON 88302 is genetically engineered canola (rapeseed) that has had its DNA modified to withstand the herbicide glyphosate (the active ingredient in Monsanto's herbicide Roundup). MON 88302 was made by Monsanto. Monsanto already has one variety of Roundup Ready canola sold in the U.S. and Canada, GT73. It claims that farmers can spray this newer variety with higher rates of glyphosate herbicide and at later stages of development compared to GT73. As of 2012, the USDA is considering deregulating (legalizing) it in the United States.

Petition for Deregulation in the U.S.
On July 7, 2011, Monsanto submitted a petition to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for the deregulation of MON 88302. On July 13, 2012, APHIS published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that the Monsanto petition was available for public review and soliciting public comments, due on or before September 11, 2012. In its notice, APHIS wrote:


 * "As described in the petition, canola event MON 88302 has been genetically engineered for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate via the incorporation of a cp4 epsps coding sequence, producing the same 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (CP4 EPSPS) protein that is produced in commercial Roundup Ready® crop products. MON 88302 utilizes an improved promoter sequence to enhance CP4 EPSPS expression in male reproductive tissues (i.e., pollen). Enhanced CP4 EPSPS expression in the male reproductive tissues of MON 88302 allows the greater flexibility of glyphosate herbicide applications as MON 88302 plants can be sprayed with higher rates of glyphosate and at later stages of development with no detectable impact to male fertility."

Controversies
See the section on Controversies in the article on Roundup Ready Crops.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Roundup Ready Canola
 * Roundup Ready Crops
 * Monsanto
 * Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
 * Roundup
 * Glyphosate
 * Glyphosate Resistant Weeds

External resources

 * Novel Food Decisions - Approved Products, Health Canada.
 * Petitions of Nonregulated Status Granted or Pending by APHIS, USDA.
 * Petition for the Determination of Nonregulated Status for Glyphosate-Tolerant Canola MON 88302 in the United States, July 7, 2011.