The Brazilian agricultural research company Embrapa and Helix, a subsidiary of the Brazilian company Agroceres, have launched BTMAX insect-resistant maize in Brazil. BTMAX maize varieties contain the EH913 genetic event, which confers resistance to select lepidopteran pests, including fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis). In laboratory tests, BTMAX maize varieties were reported to be effective against fall armyworm populations which have developed resistance to existing B.t traits, indicating a lack of cross-resistance between BTMAX maize and other GM varieties. BTMAX maize, co-developed through a public-private partnership between the two organisations, was approved for commercial use in Brazil earlier this year (see AgbioNews Jun 7, 2022).