USDA Approves Corn Modified for Easier Ethanol Production

WILMINGTON, Del.Syngenta announced USDA approved its Enogen corn seed for commercial growing. The corn is genetically modified to more easily be converted into ethanol. According to the company: 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." Enogen corn seed will be available for the coming growing season.

Although already approved for import into Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia and Taiwan, and for cultivation in Canada, approval of the corn amylase in the United States was not met with enthusiasm by the North American Millers Association, a  trade association representing 43 companies that operate 170 wheat, oat and corn mills in 38 states and Canada. In a statement, Mary Waters, president, said:  USDA has failed to provide the public with sufficient scientific data on the economic impacts of contamination on food production, or information on how USDA will ensure Syngenta's compliance with a stewardship plan."