Syngenta renames corn traits

Dec 1, 2004 12:00 PM, Karen McMahon

Watch for new terminology on corn hybrids from Syngenta's NK, Golden Harvest and Garst brands. Syngenta recently announced it is using the term Agrisure GT Advantage to refer to the GA21 glyphosate-tolerant trait and the term Agrisure CB Advantage for the Bt11 corn borer (CB) trait. The new terms are in effect for the 2005 season. Several NK and Golden Harvest hybrids will carry the trait listed as Agrisure GT, and some Garst hybrids will carry the Agrisure CB trait.

Competes with RR

The Agrisure GT trait is in competition with Monsanto's Roundup Ready (RR) trait. Syngenta recently acquired the rights to the GA21 glyphosate-tolerant trait from Bayer CropScience. Monsanto has filed legal action disputing this acquisition. But Syngenta is intent on bringing the trait to market in 2005 under its own brand name, Agrisure. “Syngenta has full rights to GA21's use in corn in the U.S.,” reports Travis Dickinson, Syngenta's head of new business development for NAFTA. In addition, Syngenta owns a corn borer trait.

Syngenta plans to offer an Agrisure GT-CB stacked hybrid soon. Within a couple of years, the company intends to offer its own corn rootworm (CRW) trait as well as a GT-CB-CRW stack. The company's intention is to broadly license the Agrisure Advantage traits to other seed companies.

More options

The Agrisure Advantage lines will give growers another option in the marketplace for traits and glyphosate, Dickinson adds. He says that although the company is not the first in the marketplace with these products, it is focused on service for the grower.

Growers purchasing seed with the Agrisure GT trait will receive a range of risk assurances, regardless of which herbicide they use, including trait investment protection, crop safety warranty, cost-share protection for volunteer corn and participation in Syngenta's agronomic programs. When Syngenta herbicides are used, other assurances are available, such as crop investment protection, early weed management assurance and cost-control assurances.