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# USDA partially deregulating biotech sugar beets‎ - 13 minutes ago

UPDATE 1-USDA partially deregulating biotech sugar beets
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/04/us-sugarbeet-usda-idUSN0423869820110204

Fri Feb 4, 2011 3:37pm EST

 * USDA to permit commercial sugar beet production

 * Aims to prevent drop in U.S. sugar production

 * US judge had banned planting of GMO beets

 * GMO sugar beets make up 95 pct of sugar beet crop

 (adds byline, details, background)

 By Carey Gillam and Chuck Abbott

 KANSAS CITY/WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - US agricultural
regulators on Friday said despite a court ban, they would allow
commercial planting of genetically modified sugar beets under
closely controlled conditions.

 The move marks the second-such boost by the United States
for contested biotech crops in a week, and underscores U.S.
determination to expand the use of GMO crops amid rising global
fears over food security and surging prices.

After approving genetically altered alfalfa last week in the
face of bitter protest and after court rulings against an
earlier sugar beet approval, the U.S. Department of Agriculture
said it would allow Monsanto Co.'s (MON.N) "Roundup Ready"
sugar beets back in the fields this spring. Beet planting will
be done under closely controlled conditions to prevent any
potential plant pest risks, according to USDA.

 The biotech beets, engineered to tolerate Roundup
herbicide, make up 95 percent of the U.S. sugar beet crop and
are needed to avoid a steep drop in U.S. sugar production,
officials have said.

 The government has estimated if growers have to rely on a
limited supply of conventional sugar beet seeds, U.S. sugar
production could drop by more than 1.6 million tons, or about
21 percent.

  (Reporting by Carey Gillam in Kansas City and Chuck Abbott
 in Washington;editing by Sofina Mirza-Reid)