GM wheat moves closer in U.S.

 The United States has deregulated the HB4 trait in wheat, paving the way for genetically modified wheat to be grown in that country.

Bioceres Crop Solutions of Argentina developed the trait, which is already approved in that country and others.

On Aug. 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would deregulate the trait, saying it could be safely used in wheat.

The National Association of Wheat Growers thanked the USDA for the decision “to provide a robust, science-based process that affords a pathway for the cultivation of the HB4 trait in the United States.”

The organization said drought-tolerant wheat could help meet global supply challenges and sustainability goals.

President Keeff Felty called the decision exciting.

“Over the past few years, wheat producers across the major wheat-producing regions have had to grapple with intense drought, and continued innovations like HB4 can be a tool that helps growers protect and stabilize their yields,” he said.

It will be some time before the wheat is commercially grown because field trials are required.

NAWG board member Kyler Millershaski said he went to Argentina to see the crop in the field and meet with Bioceres. He said the wheat offers tremendous potential.

The USDA studied the trait in 2022 and said then it had no further questions about its safety.

Bioceres has regulatory approval for food and feed use in Nigeria, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and South Africa. Farmers in Argentina and Brazil are growing wheat with the trait.

According to NAWG, the company also intends to plant field trials in Australia in a bid to obtain regulatory approval there.

Tags: United States, wheat, genetically modified wheat, Bioceres Crop Solutions of Argentina