Monsanto's genmod sugar beet plans crystallize


http://flickr.com/photos/uberculture/1527460229/According to a story in today's New York Times, American sugar beet growers have committed to planting a genetically modified strain that will allow them to control weeds via use of Scott Miracle-Gro's (NYSE:SMG) Round-up product. The farmers expect that the Monsanto-developed beet will lower their production costs by eliminating hand-weeding and increasing yield.

Expect this to trigger another round of public controversy about genetically modified crops, held in great suspicion by world markets. Although the product was approved by the U.S. government in 2005, reluctance among manufacturers to contend with public distrust of modified foods led growers to hold back on adoption.

Look for this issue to raise other sugar-related discussions, including U.S. and E.U. price supports and the lack of free access to these markets by third world sugar suppliers, and the environmental cost of cane sugar growing practices. If Monsanto (NYSE:MON) can overcome these objections, it will represent another major step in cultivating acceptance for other genetically modified crops, which would bode well for the company's future.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA+6.5112,890.46
NASDAQ+11.372,927.23
S&P 500+1.991,351.95

Last updated: February 10, 2012: 03:27 AM

Hot Stocks

General Electric

19.13-0.11(-0.57)

Alcoa

10.64-0.03(-0.28)

Apple Inc

493.17+16.49(+3.46)

Google Inc 'A'

611.46+1.61(+0.26)

Bank of America

8.18+0.05(+0.62)

Wal-Mart Stores

61.96+0.34(+0.55)

Exxon Mobil Corp

84.88-0.44(-0.52)

Ford

12.69-0.15(-1.17)

Citigroup

33.66-0.57(-1.67)

IBM

193.13+0.18(+0.09)

Yahoo

16.00+0.22(+1.39)

Starbucks

49.20+0.48(+0.99)

Microsoft

30.77+0.11(+0.36)

Home Depot

45.27+0.10(+0.22)

DailyFinance Headlines

Benzinga Headlines

TheFlyOnTheWall.com Headlines

    BioHealth Investor Headlines

    WalletPop Headlines

    DailyFinance BlackBerry App

    My Portfolios

    Track your stocks here!

    Find out why more people track their portfolios on AOL Money & Finance then anywhere else.

    BloggingStocks Partners

    More from AOL Money & Finance

    BioHealth Investor Headlines

    Page Loaded in 1328862461915 ms.