Burkina Faso’s cotton output to rise after discontinuing Monsanto GMO variety

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Minister says cotton quality is better now that the country has reverted to non-GMO

1. Burkina Faso minister estimates 2016/17 cotton crop at 750,000 tonnes vs 600,000T in 2015/16
2. Burkina Faso cotton output to rise after discontinuing Monsanto variety
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1. Burkina Faso minister estimates 2016/17 cotton crop at 750,000 tonnes vs 600,000T in 2015/16

Reuters Africa, 17 Jan 2017
http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKBN1510MH

Burkina Faso estimates it will produce 750,000 tonnes of raw cotton in the 2016/17 season, up from the previous harvest of 600,000 tonnes, the country's agriculture minister said on Monday.

Jacob Ouedraogo told reporters in Paris that good production had been helped by good rain, but that quality was also better compared with previous genetically modified (GM) crops.

He added that Burkina growers had reverted 100 percent to non-GM cotton for the 2016/2017 crop, and that talks were underway with U.S. seed maker Monsanto over compensation for crop quality problems blamed on GM cotton.

(Reporting by Gus Trompiz, Writing by John Irish, Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)
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2. Burkina Faso cotton output to rise after discontinuing Monsanto variety

YarnsandFibers News Bureau, 17 Jan 2017
http://www.yarnsandfibers.com/news/textile-news/burkina-faso-cotton-output-rise-after-discontinuing-monsanto-variety#.WH4yu5K-p2B

The west African country’s growers after blaming a genetically modified (GM) variety supplied by U.S. seed maker Monsanto for a decline in cotton quality reverted entirely to conventional cotton for the new crop.

The country’s agriculture minister Jacob Quedragon on Monday said that due to favorable rainfall to boost cotton output. The 2016-17 harvest, which is expected to total 750,000 tonnes, was showing improved quality as well as production.

Burkina Faso estimates its production of raw cotton for the 2016-17 harvest will rise by 25 percent compared to the previous harvest.

Burkina Faso's cotton producers had complained that increased levels of short fibers in their GM cotton had impacted its market value, and last April announced they were seeking 48.3 billion CFA francs ($78 million) in compensation from Monsanto.

Monsanto has acknowledged changes in cotton fiber length, but argued that fiber quality is also influenced by environmental conditions and that other cotton varieties have shown length variations.

The talks between Burkina's producers and Monsanto were continuing.