Brazil Approves World’s First Genetically Modified Sugar Cane

Brazilian regulators approved the world’s first genetically modified sugar-cane as the country, which is the biggest producer of the commodity, tries recover the competitiveness it lost in recent years.

Brazil’s National Technical Commission for Biosafety, known as CTNBio, approved June 8 the use of a genetically modified cane developed by private researcher Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira SA, or CTC. The modified crop will make plants resistant to the insect known as the sugar cane borer, the company said.

While the South American nation remains the largest sugar producer and exporter, in recent years Brazilian growers have faced increased competition from ...