Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans received import approval from China today. A highly anticipated technology, Monsanto Company’s Xtend soybeans will now be available in the US and Canada in time for the 2016 season.

“We are pleased to bring Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans to the market,” said Brett Begemann, Monsanto President and Chief Operating Officer. “After a decade of development, the new and elite germplasm in Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans can provide growers with outstanding performance in their efforts to produce the best crop possible.”

Monsanto’s Asgrow®, Channel® and regional brands, along with Corn States licensees, expect to introduce more than 70 soybean products across eight maturity groups with agronomic traits including resistance to nematodes and phytophthora root rot. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans are broadly licensed to more than 100 seed brands.

Although Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans are tolerant to both glyphosate and dicamba herbicides, the use of dicamba herbicide over the top of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans remains in late stage of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review and is not currently approved by the EPA. Once approved, the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System – including Bollgard II® XtendFlex® cotton – will offer growers a vital tool for managing tough-to-control and glyphosate-resistant weeds.

Although Xtend soybeans are approved, the dicamba technology is awaiting EPA approval. Xtend beans will allow growers to continue to maximize their yield opportunities.

More information about Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans and the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System can be found here.