Application for the General Release of Genetically Modified organisms

August, 2005 - Monsanto South Africa (Pty) Ltd. P.O.Box 69933, Bryanston 2021 hereby announces its intention to apply for the General Release of second generation genetically modified cotton varieties. These genetically enhanced cotton varieties were developed through the use of recombinant events developed by Monsanto Company. This was achieved by stably integrating two cp4 epsps gene expression cassettes (CP4 Agrobacterium spp.) into the cotton genome using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The current commercial Roundup Ready cotton varieties contain one cp4 epsps gene expression cassette.

Roundup Ready Cotton varieties have been planted commercially in South Africa since the summer season of 2000. Roundup Ready Flex cotton varieties contain a new transformation event that has been developed to express the same CP4 EPSPS enzymatic protein as is expressed in the commercial Roundup Ready Cotton varieties. This second-generation glyphosate-tolerant cotton product, Roundup Ready Flex cotton, provides increased tolerance to glyphosate compared to the current product, Roundup Ready cotton. Use of Roundup Ready Flex cotton varieties will enable the application of a Roundup agricultural herbicide over the top of the cotton crop at later stages of development than is possible with Roundup Ready cotton. This will provide more effective weed control during crop production with minimal risk of crop injury because Roundup agricultural herbicides are highly effective against the majority of annual and perennial weeds that can be problematic during the later stages of crop development.

Cotton is grown in South Africa in the following regions : Mpumalanga, Northern, North Western, Northern Cape and Natal Kwa-Zulu in and around the following places Macuville, Mamils, Loskop Moosrivier, Roedtan, Settlers, Levubu, Letsitele Lichtenburg, Armoedsvlakte, Rustenburg, Britz, Marico Vaalwater, Pongola and the Mkhathini Flats. It is intended that as suitable varieties become available that Roundup Ready Flex cottonseeds will be made available in all these cotton producing areas.