By Ana Mano
SAO PAULO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Plant genetics company GDM
has applied for registration in South Africa of 13 soy plant
varieties after the country approved the use of a new GMO seed
technology, according to company executives on Monday.
GDM is based in Argentina but derives most of its sales in
neighboring Brazil, where that same technology has been in use
since 2014.
The expectation is that three of the 13 materials be
pre-launched this year, as the firm hopes to bolster its South
African business and prepare incursions throughout the region.
"Our target is that by 2027 more than 50% of the area planted
with soybeans in South Africa contains our genetics," said
Thiago Schwonka, the company's Africa, Asia and Europe business
leader.
GDM's strategy reflects a recent push by African governments
to tackle food insecurity by attracting plant genetics firms.
Schwonka said that while South Africa is the only African
nation that recognizes intellectual property of autogamous, or
self-fertilizing plants, other countries are keen to modernize
their patent laws and join the International Union for the
Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).
All the 13 materials GDM plans to register in South Africa
feature Bayer's INTACTA RR2 PRO GMO seed technology,
designed to help soy plants resist caterpillars and the
glyphosate weed-killer.
South Africa's approval of that technology came in 2021, GDM
said.
Joao Schechtel, GDM's product placement supervisor, noted
much of South Africa's soy is used as cattle feed during the dry
months of winter. He said corn remains South Africa's main crop,
but added farmers may grow soy planting in corn areas because
corn production costs are rising.
GDM also plans to launch non-GMO wheat seeds in South Africa
shortly. By 2027, it wants to achieve a 20% share of the wheat
seed market there, the executives said.
(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Steven Grattan and Josie
Kao)
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