A lack of regulatory approval from China for cotton seed produced from the genetically modified (GM) Bollgard 3 suite of cotton varieties could cost the Australian oilseed exporting sector hundreds of millions of dollars if not resolved.
It is expected Australia will produce around one million tonnes of cotton seed this year, with around 90-95 per cent of plantings of Bollgard 3 varieties.
With subdued domestic demand for cotton seed, the industry was targeting the export market, in particular China as a home for the product.
The confusion over China’s position on Bollgard 3 has caught the industry on the hop.
In its promotion of the Bollgard 3 technology, patent owners Monsanto stated the trait had received seed import approval in China.
However, all exporters are required to do their own due diligence on regulatory requirements for individual markets before committing to sales.
The Australian Government is now in discussions with China over the issue.
The problem is damaging for the owners of the Bollgard 3 patent, Monsanto, who had been delighted with how Bollgard 3 had performed agronomically in its first season.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: Chinese approval delay a blow for cottonseed producers
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