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GM sugar beets partially deregulated

USDA will issue a partial deregulation of Roundup Ready sugar beets. The “partial” deregulation is necessary so growers can begin spring planting while the USDA completes a comprehensive environmental impact statement (EIS) ordered by a District Court ruling in August 2010. The EIS will further analyze the potential environmental impact of the crop.

In the meantime, USDA has authority to allow limited planting, as long as it complies with the National Environmental Policy, the Plant Protection Act and the Administrative Procedures Act.

Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) called the USDA decision “a resonable interim step that allows farmers to move forward with planting decisions while USDA completes the EIS, which is expected to take at least another year.

“Sugar beets are planted on more than one million acres in 10 statesand produce nearly half our nation’s sugar supply. The ongoing litigation has created uncertainty for farmers, sugar producers, technology providers and researchers, which in turn has hurt our agriculture sector and rural economies.

Nearly 95 percent of U.S. sugar beet farmers have planted Roundup Ready sugar beets.