USDA Evaluated New Genetically Engineered Cotton

Federal regulators are reviewing petitions to allow the use of two new cotton varieties developed by Bayer.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Organic Food

Isometric editorial illustration of a stylized cotton boll on a plinth, representing agricultural biotechnology regulatory processes. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has opened a public comment period to evaluate whether two new genetically engineered cotton varieties developed by Bayer should be granted nonregulated status. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should federal regulators reduce oversight of new genetically engineered crops developed by private companies?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has opened a public comment period for two genetically engineered cotton varieties. These petitions follow requests by Bayer U.S.-Crop Science to grant the crops nonregulated status.

Why it matters

This regulatory process determines whether these specific cotton strains can enter the agricultural market, impacting how crops are protected from herbicides and pests. The outcome will shape industry standards for future genetically modified organism oversight.

APHIS conducted draft plant pest risk assessments for cotton varieties MON 96012 and MON 89151, comparing their risk profiles against unmodified cotton. These preliminary findings suggest the organisms are unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk.

The players

Bayer U.S.-Crop Science

A developer of agricultural biotechnology products and crop protection chemicals.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

A USDA agency responsible for protecting U.S. agriculture from pests and diseases through regulatory oversight.

The details

The regulatory process involves evaluating MON 96012, designed to tolerate five classes of herbicides, including glyphosate and dicamba, and MON 89151, which utilizes three insecticidal proteins to target lepidopteran pests. APHIS reviews the molecular and phenotypic data provided in the petitions to ensure these engineered traits do not inadvertently introduce new risks compared to conventional varieties. This assessment is a standard procedure to establish nonregulated status for agricultural biotechnology.

September 21, 2026: APHIS announced the receipt of the two petitions.
November 20, 2026: Deadline for the public to submit comments on the proposed status change.

Health Landscape

This regulatory review sits within the established oversight protocol governed by the APHIS plant pest risk assessment framework. It reflects the ongoing trend of evaluating increasingly complex, multi-trait genetically engineered crops against long-standing baseline safety standards.

This regulatory process affects the agricultural inputs used in the production of textiles and food-derived cotton products. If you are concerned about specific farming practices or genetic modification, you may review the Federal Register filings to provide public feedback.

The takeaway

The USDA is currently weighing whether to grant nonregulated status to two new cotton varieties with enhanced herbicide and insect resistance. Interested parties can monitor official updates through the Federal Register to follow the final regulatory decision.