SmartStax Pro receives final approval

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SmartStax Pro receives final approval

Photo courtesy of Bayer

Bayer’s new SmartStax Pro has received its final approval and is set to launch in 2022.

Denise Bouvrette, Bayer’s North American launch lead says this is good news for corn growers who battle corn rootworm.  “It will be the first product on the market with three modes of action to control corn rootworms,” she says.  “One of which is a totally novel mode of action using RNai base mechanism, which is completely different from the existing Bts on the marketplace.”

She tells Brownfield, in addition to corn rootworm, SmartStax Pro will offer growers protection against European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, fall armyworm, black cutworm, and corn earworm.  “We recognize all the challenges that our farmers have in managing these tough pests on their farms,” she says.  “This is just one other tool that we can provide for our growers to help manage those difficult challenges, particularly with corn rootworm.”

Bayer recently received the final safety certificate for import and food/feed use from China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.  Bayer plans to conduct on-farm grower market development trials in 2021, preparing for a full US commercial launch in 2022 (and Canadian launch in 2023).

AUDIO: Denise Bouvrette, Bayer

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