Reuters – Brazillian authorities have approved the use of a new genetically-modified soy seed which was developed jointly by BASF and state agricultural researchers in the world's No. 2 soy exporter.

The soy is tolerant of imidazoline-based herbicides and it is the first genetically-modified seed ever to be approved by Brazil's CTNBio biosecurity commission that was developed with the participation of a government entity.

BASF said it plans to launch the seed in the 2011/12 soy season meaning it would be sown for the first time around October 2011. The firm supplied the modified gene and researchers Embrapa inserted it into the soy's genetic material. BASF and Embrapa have been partners since 1997.

Currently the only GMO soy available in Brazil is Monsanto's glyphosate herbicide-resistant Roundup Ready.

Source:

Reuters. “Brazil approves its second gene-modified soy,” http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1125312920091211?type=marketsNews; 12 Dec. 2009.