AgroPages-Australasia to approve Monsanto’s MON87751 soybeans-Agricultural news

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) proposed to approve the insect-protected soybean line MON87751 from Monsanto. FSANZ received application from Monsanto Australia Ltd on 20 February 2015 for seeking permission on the sale and use of food derived from MON87751 soybean line that is protected against lepidopteran pests, including key soybean pests, the bean shoot moth, sunflower looper and fall armyworm.

Protection against lepidopteran insect pests is achieved through expression of two Cry proteins (Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2) encoded by the cry1A.105 and cry 2Ab2 genes derived from the common soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. The safety of the Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2 proteins has previously been assessed by FSANZ.

FSANZ has assessed the application and determined there are no public health and safety concerns. And based on the data provided in the application, and other available information, food derived from this soybean line is considered to be as safe for human consumption as food derived from conventional soybean cultivars.

The closing date for public comment submissions is 26 August 2015.