CTC says approval of transgenic sugarcane by China will accelerate adoption in Brazil

China's approval of two transgenic sugarcane varieties developed in Brazil will accelerate the technology's adoption in the country, as the Asian giant is the biggest global importer of sugar, the Center for Sugarcane Technology said on Tuesday. (CTC), told Reuters. Last Friday, China's Ministry of Agriculture announced authorizations for imports of transgenic agricultural products, covering two varieties of genetically modified sugarcane, CTC20Bt and CTC9001Bt, both developed by the CTC, with 100% Brazilian technology. The two Bt canes, the first transgenic canes on sale in the world, are resistant to the insect known as the borer. The use of this technology, according to the CTC, provides gains to Brazilian sugarcane plantations by contributing to the control of the pest that causes annual losses of R$ 5 billion. “The adoption of Bt sugarcane has been growing in Brazil because it provides efficient and sustainable control of the sugarcane borer. The approval of this variety by ...