Brazilian sugar mills looking to grow the world\u2019s first variety of genetically modified (GM) sugarcane have planted an initial area of 400 hectares (988 acres), according to the research firm behind the project.
Developed by Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira (CTC) with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) genes that make it resistant to the cane borer, around 100 mills are working with the GM cane, company Chief Executive Gustavo Leite told Reuters.
The cane borer is a widespread insect that costs Brazilian mills around 5 billion reais ($1.5 billion) per year in losses and insecticide expense.
Development of new sugarcane varieties is seen by experts as key to improving agricultural yields, reducing production costs, and increasing profit margins in an industry struggling with low global sugar prices.
But many environmentalists oppose the spread of GM plant varieties that kill insects, saying they could cause imbalances in the areas where they are mass cultivated.
Last year, Brazil approved the commercial use of CTC\u2019s GM sugarcane, the first time such permission had been granted anywhere in the world.
Leite, a former Monsanto executive, said the company\u2019s objective was to rapidly increase planting of the new variety in the next three years, targeting around 1.5 million hectares.
He also said that CTC has new GM products in the pipeline.
\u201cWe are going to create a portfolio of varieties with this characteristic of resistance to the borer. Our idea is to seek approval of one or two new varieties this year,\u201d he said.
Founded in 1969 and maintained by private and public institutions, CTC is the world\u2019s largest sugarcane research center. Among its main shareholders are BNDESPar, the investment arm of Brazil\u2019s development bank, Copersucar, the world\u2019s largest sugar merchant, and Ra\u00edzen, a joint venture between Cosan SA Ind\u00fastria e Com\u00e9rcio and Royal Dutch Shell Plc.
CTC has previously said it was considering an IPO as a way to raise cash for its research, and Leite said that could happen around 2021.
Among other varieties being developed by the company are a GM cane resistant to another insect affecting plantations, known locally as\u2018bicudo\u2019 (bollard), and one that would be resistant to the weed killer glyphosate .<\/p>\n
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Source: Reuters<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"