USDA Deregulates Genetically Engineered Corn

Date:02-25-2011

Syngenta has received full deregulation for its corn amylase trait from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the company reported February 11. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) decided to deregulate corn genetically engineered (GE) to produce a common enzyme called alpha-amylase that breaks down starch into sugar, thereby facilitating a vital step in ethanol production.

This is the first genetically modified output trait in corn for the ethanol industry, Syngenta stated in its announcement. By enabling expression of an optimized alpha-amylase enzyme directly in corn, dry grind ethanol production can be improved in a way that can be easily integrated into existing infrastructure, the company noted. Syngenta will sell corn seed with the amylase trait as Enogen corn seed.