Dow AgroSciences soybeans pass U.S. FDA consultation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its consultation for Enlist E3? soybeans, a product of  Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. According to Dow, the agency had accepted its data on Enlist E3 soybeans as to the product’s similarity in composition, safety, and other parameters, to soybean-derived food and feed currently on the market. This advanced technology is part of the Enlist? Weed Control System that combines innovative traits, herbicides, and stewardship to deliver weed control that farmers need now whilst sustaining beneficial farming practices.

“This past cropping season has shown that weed control challenges are getting worse, and farmers need new solutions. This regulatory consultation for Enlist E3 soybeans illustrates the strong foundation of science upon which Enlist is based,” said Joe Vertin, global business leader, Enlist Weed Control System, Dow AgroSciences. “We are committed to bringing farmers this important innovation so they can take back their fields from the weeds and enable their crops to reach their full yield potential.”

The Enlist E3 soybean event includes, for the first time, three herbicide-tolerant genes stacked together as part of a single genetic event in the soybean genome. These genes provide tolerance to Dow AgroSciences’ new 2,4-D product, glyphosate, and glufosinate. A product offering of the Enlist system, Enlist E3 soybeans will be brought to market in high-yielding varieties, widely available in multiple brands for farmers who want improved weed control and high yields. The innovative product is being developed through a collaboration between MS Technologies and Dow AgroSciences.

The FDA consultation is a voluntary step as part of the overall federal deregulation process, which also entails a separate scientific review by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The FDA finished its consultation regarding Enlist corn and Enlist soybeans in 2011. The USDA is currently assessing the Enlist corn and soybean traits and is conducting an Environmental Impact Statement as part of the review process.

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