Brazil approves new varieties of GMO corn

SAO PAULO, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Brazil's biosecurity regulator, CTNBio, approved two new varieties of genetically modified corn on Thursday, both of which have been engineered to resist pests and glyphosate-based herbicide.

The seeds were developed by the world's largest seed company, Monsanto (MON.N) and the world's largest agrochemicals company, Syngenta (SYNN.VX).

A third variety developed by Syngenta, with insect resistant properties only, was also approved, bringing to nine the total number of GMO corn varieties approved for use in Brazil.

According to agricultural consultants Celeres, about 30 percent of the seed planted for Brazil's 2009/10 summer corn crop will be one of these genetically modified kinds.

(Reporting by Roberto Samora; Writing by Peter Murphy; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)