Syngenta-China rift over popular rootworm-resistant GM corn deepens

Syngenta AG, under pressure from U.S. grain exporters to suspend sales of seeds containing a new genetically modified corn trait that is not approved in China, said on Wednesday, Feb 5, it has already “sold out” of the product.

Demand for the Agrisure Duracade trait has been strong because it is engineered to fight crop infestations of a damaging pest called rootworm, Chief Operating Officer Davor Pisk told analysts on a conference call.

By announcing that all seeds containing the trait had been sold, Syngenta shifted the focus of a farm-sector controversy back to grain merchants, who must decide whether they will buy grain produced from the seed by farmers.

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Read the full, original article: Syngenta says ‘sold out’ of GMO corn trait banned by China