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Monsanto finds no CP4 event in wheat

Monsanto says it has tested 56 different wheat seed varieties which represent more than 80 percent of all the soft white winter/spring wheat seed grown in Oregon and Washington State-region in 2011. Among the varieties tested were the seed stock for the two varieties the farmer reportedly planted in the fields where some Roundup Ready wheat was found a couple of weeks ag. Monsanto says they found no detectable presence of MON71800 (the CP4 event) in any of the 56 varieties.

The full statement from Monsanto follows:

On Wednesday, June 5, Monsanto announced that we had completed validated tests on a broad set of wheat seed varieties that were available to wheat farmers throughout Oregon and Washington state regions, as well as tested the seed stock for the two varieties the farmer reportedly planted — WestBred variety WB528 and a USDA-WSU variety (ROD).

As part of our press briefing, we outlined our findings on the foundation seed for 50 varieties in addition to ROD/WB528 which collectively represented approximately 60 percent of all the acres of soft white winter/spring wheat seed varieties grown in this bi-state region for 2011.

Since that time, Monsanto has tested six additional varieties reportedly grown in the region in 2011. The company’s tests have confirmed that these samples show no detectable presence of MON 71800 (“the CP4 event”). In Summary:

Monsanto has tested a representative sample of foundation seed for the two varieties that the farmer reported planting: ROD and WB528. Our tests have determined that these samples were clean of this CP4 event in wheat.

Monsanto has now tested the seed for 56 varieties which represent more than 80 percent of all the acres of soft white winter/spring wheat seed varieties grown in this bi-state region for 2011. These tests show that all samples of these 56 varieties are clean.

More information about the testing method and ongoing developments related to the USDA’s reported detection, as well as information related to the company’s investments in wheat and wheat technology can be found online at: www.monsanto.com/gmwheat.