Origin Agritech, a leading technology-focused supplier of crop seeds and agri-biotech research in China, says it has received the biosafety certificate from China’s agriculture ministry as final commercial approval for the world’s first transgenic phytase-rich corn variety, according to Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News.
Phytase is currently used as an additive in animal feed to breakdown phytic acid in corn, which holds 60% of the phosphorus in corn. Phytase increases phosphorus absorption in animals by 60%. Phosphorus is an essential element for the growth and development of all animals, and plays a key role in skeletal structure and in vital metabolic pathways. Phytase, as an additive for animal feed, is mandatory in Europe, Southeast Asia,South Korea, Japan, and other regions for environmental purposes. Phytase-rich transgenic corn, developed by and licensed from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS) after seven years of study, will allow animal feed producers the ability to eliminate purchasing phytase and corn separately. It will eliminate the need for mixing the two ingredients together, saving time, machinery, and labour for the animal feed producers, the company says. IFI C International Update: Media Coverage for November 23, 2009.
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