History of Monsanto and how it created Roundup Ready Corn

Monsanto

Monsanto is a leading producer of genetically modified seeds and Roundup. The company went public on September 26, 2000 under the direction of John Francis Queeny, who is now based in Creve Coeur, USA. The company sells herbicides, insecticides and seeds. But the original Monsanto was founded by John F. Queenie in 1901 and named after his wife Olga Monsanto his Queenie. In 1976, Monsanto introduced Roundup herbicide as the first type of herbicide to the market. In late 1996, the company introduced herbicide-tolerant Roundup His Ready soybeans and cotton which could tolerate the herbicides. The creation of these crops was assisted by the Roundup technology. The inventions later led to the creation of Roundup Ready Com in 1998(Sidhu, Ravinder S., et al. 2310).

Roundup Ready Corn (Monsanto Herbicides)

Roundup Ready Corns are crops that can tolerate the Monsanto Herbicides. The Monsanto herbicide is one of the glyphosate products which can be used as part of the environment-friendly weed control herbicide (Sidhu, Ravinder S., et al. 2311). The monsanto herbicide was introduced in 1974 with the original ingredient of glyphosate. The Roundup herbicides have different formulations designed to fit in different environmental conditions for instance, there is the Australian packaging and the New Zeeland packaging. The herbicides main component, glyphosate, enters plants through the foliage hence only actively growing weeds should be sprayed.

LiberityLink Corn (Liberty Herbicide)

LibertyLink is a brand of genes in the agricultural sector which provides tolerance to the glucofinate and the Liberty herbicide since the Corn provides an herbicide which offers resistance system and remains effective in the presence of glyphosate-resistant weeds (Cromwell, G. L., et al 1070).

LibertyLink verses Roundup Corn

There are two main differences. One, LibertyLink is a contact herbicide not a systemic herbicide while the Roundup Corn is a systemic herbicide not a contact herbicide. Two, Roundup Corn herbicide is more effective on bigger weeds because of glysophate while LibertyLink herbicide tends to be more effective on smaller weeds because of glucofinate. However, both have resistance genes.

Biotechnology process behind Roundup Ready Corn

The Roundup Ready Corns are made using biotechnology process that ensures the crops produced are tolerant to the corresponding herbicides and are able to yield in the specified conditions in which they are designed to grow.

Works Cited

Sidhu, Ravinder S., et al. “Glyphosate-tolerant corn: The composition and feeding value of grain from glyphosate-tolerant corn is equivalent to that of conventional corn (Zea mays L.).”Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 48.6 (2000): 2305-2312.

Cromwell, G. L., et al. “Glufosinate herbicide-tolerant (LibertyLink) rice vs. conventional rice in diets for growing-finishing swine.”Journal of animal science 83.5 (2005): 1068-1074.