Monsanto Seeks OK for Bioengineered Canola

Monsanto Co., the biggest developer of genetically engineered crops, said Monday it asked the U.S. government to approve a bioengineered variety of canola that may already have found its way into U.S. crops.

Genetic material from the unapproved strain, known as GT200, showed up last year in Monsanto canola seeds in Canada, prompting a recall. Monsanto said it is seeking U.S. approval so that any U.S. crops found to contain traces of GT200 still could be sold.

Monsanto has never found GT200 in seeds intended for planting in the U.S. and doesn’t plan commercial sales of it, spokesman Loren Wassell said. U.S. approval would let Monsanto avoid a recall in case traces of the variety turn up in U.S. crops, he said.

Monsanto developed GT200 to create a canola variety that would withstand applications of Monsanto’s Roundup, the leading U.S. weedkiller. The company later developed RT73, which was approved and is in use, Wassell said.

He said Monsanto has received clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency for GT200 and is seeking approvals from the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture.

“We haven’t made any comment, one way or the other, which way we’re leaning,” USDA spokeswoman Alisa Harrison said.

Shares of St. Louis-based Monsanto fell 22 cents to $32.60 on the New York Stock Exchange.