BIOTECHNOLOGY: Information on Prices of Genetically Modified Seeds in the United States and Argentina

While genetically modified seeds are available for many crops, Roundup Ready soybeans and Bt corn are the ones most widely grown. Roundup Ready soybeans contain a gene that enables soybeans to withstand applications of Roundup-an herbicide effective on many kinds of weeds. Bt corn is genetically modified with a gene from a soil bacterium that makes the corn resistant to certain insects, including the European corn borer-a damaging insect pest of corn in the United States. Farmers use these products for the perceived benefits they offer, including increased yields, more flexibility in crop management, reduced herbicide usage, and decreased pest management costs. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Economic Research Service, the benefits and performance of these crops are expected to vary greatly by region, pest infestation levels, seed and technology costs, irrigation, and other factors. Roundup Ready soybean seeds were first marketed in the United States and Argentina in 1996. The Monsanto Company, which holds U.S. patents for these seeds, licenses the Roundup Ready technology to seed companies. The licensees incorporate the technology into their conventional soybean varieties and sell the genetically modified seeds to farmers. While several seed companies market Roundup Ready soybean seeds in Argentina, Roundup Ready soybean technology is not patented there.