Dow receives first approval for Enlist corn and Enlist soybeans

Dow AgroSciences announced that Canadian regulatory authorities have approved the Enlist™ corn trait and the Enlist™ soybean trait, which are part of the company’s Enlist Weed Control System. This will allow for the first-ever cultivation of the traits, which provide tolerance to 2,4-D herbicide, giving Canadian farmers options and advanced technology for dealing with hard-to-control and resistant weeds in both crops. The Enlist corn and Enlist soybean traits have undergone evaluation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada (HC), and have been approved for food, feed, and environmental release. Approvals are also being sought in the United States, Brazil, and Argentina.

"Farmers around the world have an urgent need to address weed control challenges, and this first cultivation approval enables delivery of one of the most advanced solutions,” says Daniel R. Kittle, global leader, Research and Development at Dow AgroSciences. “The science behind Enlist is novel, very robust, and provides the foundation for this new innovation for agriculture as farmers strive to increase productivity to feed a growing world.”

Enlist is a next generation system that combines innovative traits, herbicides, and stewardship to deliver weed control that farmers need now while sustaining beneficial farming practices. As the company advances the Enlist system, product stewardship remains an important priority. Dow AgroSciences has developed a comprehensive stewardship program with extensive input from farmers and other key stakeholders. The program is designed to help farmers succeed while promoting responsible use of the Enlist system. The Enlist stewardship program will offer end users technology advancements, management recommendations, as well as education, tools, and training.

Dow AgroSciences anticipates launching the Enlist Weed Control System in corn in Canada and the United States for the 2013 growing season once regulatory approvals are secured for all components of the system. Launch of the Enlist Weed Control System in soybeans in Canada and the United States is anticipated for the 2015 growing season once regulatory approvals are secured for all components of the system.