Monsanto Co. (At Closing News).

Monsanto Co., St. Louis, asked the U.S. Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant Inspection Service for permission to move ahead with commercializing a new, genetically modified Bt corn that has undergone four years of field tests and government supervision. The company requested that the new corn plant be granted non-regulated status as studies and test have shown that the crop posed no threat to the environment. Because the corn plant involves a natural pesticide, Monsanto has also filed an application to register the crop with the Environmental Protection Agency.