Monsanto’s second-generation Roundup Ready soybean - Roundup Ready 2 Yield - has received final regulatory approval for export to China. The approval comes ahead of the 2009 seed-buying season - which American Soybean Association President Johnny Dodson says is welcome news for the nation’s soybean farmers.

China purchased more than four-billion dollars worth of soybeans from the U.S. last year - and as the standard of living continues to rise in that country - ASA says the demand for soybeans will grow. The group says Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans are one of the key technologies that will help U.S. farmers meet the growing global demand for food, feed and fuel made from U.S. soybeans.

Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans have now been approved as safe for food and feed in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and China. Those countries import more than 70-percent of U.S. soybean exports. In addition - the European Food Safety Authority recently issued a positive scientific opinion that concluded Roundup Ready 2 Yield is safe for import as food and feed.