The per unit yield of new transgenic soybean seeds is at the lower end of the expected range.

(agricultural Wealth Network) according to Monsanto, the world's largest seed producer, the new GM soybean seed Roundup Ready 2 was planted on 1.5 million acres in its first year, with a yield increase of 7.3 per cent. The per unit yield of the new soybean seed is at the lower end of the expected range of 7% Murray 10%.

Monsanto said the acreage of Roundup Ready 2 soybeans could increase to 8 to 10 million acres in 2010, up from an earlier forecast of 7 to 8 million acres. The SmartStax corn acreage will exceed 4 million acres, up from an earlier forecast of 3 to 4 million acres.

The new SmartStax corn and Roundup Ready 2 soybeans could help the company increase its profits by $1 billion by 2012.

Some investors lost confidence in Monsanto because producers and seed sellers told OTR Global Research in New York that they did not meet their per unit yield expectations.