Glufosinate Tolerant Corn

Glufosinate Tolerant Corn is genetically engineered corn that has had its DNA modified to withstand the herbicide Glufosinate. (Glufosinate is also referred to as Phosphinothricin and it is sold under the brand names Basta, Ignite, and Liberty.) Herbicide tolerant crops and genetically modified organisms like glufosinate tolerant corn are controversial around the world.

Brands and Manufacturers
Bayer CropScience:
 * LibertyLink® Corn (GRC Event T25)

Dow Agrosciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred:
 * Herculex® I (TC1507)
 * Herculex® I Roundup Ready® Corn 2 (TC1507 and NK603)
 * Herculex® RW (DAS-59122-7)
 * Herculex® Xtra (DAS-59122-7 and TC1507)
 * Herculex® RW Roundup Ready® Corn 2 (DAS-59122-7 and NK603)
 * Herculex® Xtra Roundup® Corn 2 (DAS-59122-7, TC1507, and NK603)
 * SmartStax™ (MON 88017, MON 89034, TC1507, and DAS59122-7)

Monsanto:
 * Genuity™SmartStax™ (MON 88017, MON 89034, TC1507, and DAS59122-7)

Pioneer Hi-Bred (DuPont):
 * Some varieties of Optimum® AcreMax®

Syngenta:
 * Agrisure® CB/LL (Bt11)
 * Agrisure® GT/CB/LL (SYTGA21 and Bt11)
 * Agrisure® CB/LL/RW (Bt11 and MIR604)
 * Agrisure® 3000GT (SYTGA21, Bt11, and MIR604)

History
1995:
 * June 22: The U.S. deregulates AgrEvo's GRC Event T14 and T25
 * December 19: The U.S. dereguates DeKalb Genetics Corporation's Corn Line B16

1996:
 * January 18: U.S. deregulates Northrup King's Bt11 Corn
 * Syngenta commercializes the Bt11 corn, branding it "Agrisure CB."

1997:
 * January: The U.S. EPA approves the use of glufosinate (sold by AgrEvo under the brand name "Liberty") for corn.
 * March: U.S. EPA updates its approval of Liberty, noting "Liberty Herbicide is for use only on corn and soybeans resistant to the active ingredient in this product."
 * March 28: U.S. deregulates DeKalb Genetics Corporation's Glufosinate Tolerant Bt Corn line DBT418, which is engineered to produce a CryIA(c) protein.

1998:
 * January: AgrEvo announces that Garst Seed Co. "will be the first seed marketer to commercialize Cry9C Bt/Liberty Link Corn Hybrids. These are also insect-and herbicide-resistant but are pending regulatory approval. Garst has four G-Stac Bt hybrids planned for spring of 1998... The Cry9C Bt/Liberty Link (Bacilus thuringiensis) gene for corn plants produces a protein with a new insect control "site of action" that targets the European corn borer. This gene was developed by Plant Genetics Systems (PGS), a company belonging to AgrEvo. The Cry9C gene is coupled with another gene that provides resistance to Liberty Herbicide."
 * May 8: The U.S. deregulates AgrEvo's glufosinate tolerant and Lepidopteran Resistant Corn, CBH-351
 * May 14: The U.S. deregulates Pioneer Hi-Bred's glufosinate tolerant corn with a Terminator Gene, 676, 678, 680

1999:
 * The U.S. deregulates AgrEvo's glufosinate tolerant corn with a Terminator Gene, MS6

2000s:
 * June 14, 2001: The U.S. deregulates Mycogen Seeds/Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred's Corn Borer Resistant and Glufosinate Tolerant Corn, TC1507
 * November 1, 2004: The U.S. deregulates Mycogen Seeds/Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred's Corn Borer Resistant and Glufosinate Tolerant Corn, TC6275
 * 2010: Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences both introduce "SmartStax" corn, which includes the glufosinate tolerant trait.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Bayer
 * Bayer CropScience
 * Biotechnology
 * Glufosinate
 * Glufosinate Tolerant Crops
 * Herbicide Tolerant Crops

External resources

 * GM Crop Database, Center for Environmental Risk Assessment
 * Overview of GMO Events Commercially Available and Regulatory Status
 * Novel Food Decisions - Approved Products, Health Canada.
 * Charles Benbrook, "Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use: The First Thirteen Years" and Supplemental Tables, The Organic Center, 2009.
 * "Failure to Yield: Evaluating the Performance of Genetically Engineered Crops," Union of Concerned Scientists, 2009.

External articles

 * Is there more to the story on GMOs?, Howard Vlieger, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance.