XtendFlex trait gets a nod from the EU

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Bayer has announced that the European Commission has authorized XtendFlex soybean technology for food, feed, import and processing in the European Union.

The XtendFlex trait infers resistance to glyphosate, glufosinate, and dicamba.

The EU approval for XtendFlex soybeans was the remaining hold up to the full launch of the trait in the United States and Canada. It is now expected to be released in both geographies for 2021.

“We’ve seen great demand for XtendFlex soybeans from our customers,” says Lisa Streck, Bayer soybean launch lead. “Based on that demand, we’ve developed a supply plan to meet the market demand in 2021, across all maturities, Bayer brands and licensees. We expect the launch of XtendFlex to match the launch scale of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans, which were planted on 20 million acres in their first year of commercial availability. This technology offers outstanding yield potential and weed control flexibility that will benefit soybean farmers across the U.S.”

There is still some uncertainty regarding in-crop dicamba use for 2021, however, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently removed the herbicide’s registration for over-the-top application mid-season in 2020.

Bayer says it is working on a possible rebate for farmers who buy the product but are unable to use dicamba as intended.

Related: 

Is dicamba the first of many products to get over-ruled? 

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