MON 87701

MON 87701 is a variety of Bt soybean made by Monsanto. It is genetically engineered to produce an insecticidal protein like the one naturally produced by the bacteria species Bacillus thuringiensis. It was deregulated in the U.S. in 2011 but it has not been commercialized yet. Bt crops and genetically modified organisms are controversial around the world.

U.S. Deregulation
Monsanto submitted a petition to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for the deregulation of its Bt soybean variety MON 87701. On June 28, 2011 APHIS published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that the Monsanto petition, a plant pest risk assessment (PPRA), and a draft environmental assessment (EA) was available for public review and soliciting public comments, due on or before August 29, 2011. The USDA conducted an environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and issued a "finding of no significant impact" (FONSI). MON 87701 was deregulated on October 12, 2011.

MON 87701 produces a Cry1Ac protein, which is toxic to lepidopteran insects. It was developed for the South American soybean market. (See the article on Soy Cultivation in South America.)

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Bt Soybeans
 * Bt Crops
 * Biotechnology
 * GMO Policies by Country
 * Herbicide Tolerant Crops
 * Bacillus thuringiensis
 * Bt-Resistant Insects
 * Genetically Modified Organisms
 * Monsanto

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.