As the growing season is rapidly approaching, there is still some uncertainty for Monsanto's Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybeans for this year.

While Monsanto received approval for the Roundup-resistant seed earlier this year from China, company spokesperson Trish Jordan says they're at an administrative roadblock when it comes to accessing the European market.

"Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybeans contains the Roundup Ready trait and the dicamba trait," explains Jordan, "both those traits have already been approved as singles, we're just waiting on the final administrative sign-off (from the European Union) on the stacked product."

Jordan hopes to have the resolution soon, saying there are no safety concerns from Europe, as the European Food Safety Authority has already given its approval.

"We're frustrated, right?" She says. "People are waiting for this technology, farmers are looking to grow it this spring, and you know, the seed is being processed, but we still don't have that final sign-off, and until we have that, we have to proceed cautiously."

While Monsanto is processing the seed and some retailers are still taking orders, the seed won't be delivered until the EU completes the approval process. However, Jordan says if mid-April rolls around with no word yet from Europe, Monsanto may have to come up with a plan B.

"Again, there's absolutely nothing to indicate we wouldn't have this by harvest — which is really the key issue in terms of grain being harvested and available for delivery to a grain elevator," she says.

She says growers are soon going to want to pick up their seed, so if the EU hasn't signed off yet, Monsanto will have to weigh the options and risks around distributing the soybean seed without the certainty of whether or not grain companies will buy the product come harvest time.

Jordan says they've been in frequent conversation with the European Commission to understand why the signature hasn't come yet. She adds groups like Soy Canada and the Canadian and U.S. Embassies have been working hard behind the scenes to expedite the approval process.