MINNETONKA, Minn. — Syngenta announced the USDA deregulated the Agrisure Duracade trait, clearing the way for sales and planting of this important new technology in the United States.

Agrisure Duracade will be combined with the Agrisure RW trait to provide dual modes of action on corn rootworm, the single most destructive pest in corn production.  

“This is a real landmark for Syngenta in terms of how we can better equip corn growers to regain control of their crops,” said David Morgan, president of Syngenta Seeds, Inc. and Syngenta North America region director.  “Deregulation means that a new standard in corn rootworm control is now available.

"Additionally, Agrisure Duracade will be stacked with other traits to offer more effective management of a broad range of pests and help keep trait technologies durable for years to come.”

Agrisure Duracade expresses a unique protein (eCry3.1Ab protein) to deliver protection against Western corn rootworm (WCRW), Northern corn rootworm (NCRW) and Mexican corn rootworm.

In Syngenta and university research trials, the Agrisure Duracade trait has demonstrated a very high level of efficacy in controlling corn rootworm. Research by the USDA reported that the Agrisure Duracade trait delivers the highest reduction in beetle emergence (99.79%) of any commercial CRW trait.*   

The Agrisure Duracade trait is now available in the following trait stacks to help farmers grow more corn, and will be used to create integrated, single bag refuge offerings currently in regulatory review:

Agrisure Duracade 5122 trait stack utilizes multiple modes of action against corn borer, corn rootworm and other insects. This stack combines the Agrisure Duracade trait with the Agrisure CB/LL trait for control of corn borer, the Agrisure RW trait for a second mode of action on corn rootworm, the GA21 trait for glyphosate tolerance and the Herculex I trait for a second mode of action on corn borer.

Agrisure Duracade 5222 trait stack includes the same traits as the Agrisure Duracade 5122 trait stack, plus the Agrisure Viptera trait for breakthrough broad lepidopteran control, including unequalled efficacy on corn earworm, as well as breakthrough control of Western bean cutworm, black cutworm, fall armyworm and stalk borer.

Syngenta, the leader in U.S. corn insect control, announced in 2012 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration of the Agrisure Duracade trait (Event 5307) and the completion of the consultation process at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Hybrids containing the trait will be available to growers in the 2014 planting season.

Corn rootworm management is a complex issue and the solution is more than just traits. There are many factors and management options that must be considered.

For more information about the Agrisure family of traits, visit www.agrisuretraits.com, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

*Field measures of Western corn rootworm mortality caused by transgenic corn expressing the mCry3A (MIR604) and eCry3.1Ab (5307) proteins. (Hibbard et al. ESA Meeting December 2010)