US breeds wheat varieties that produce their own fertilizers

Scientists in the United States have developed varieties of wheat that produce their own fertilizer, a discovery that could reduce air and water pollution around the world, the University of California at Davis reports.

According to the university, wheat production accounts for about 18% of all nitrogen fertilizers produced worldwide, while plants consume only about 30-50% of the nitrogen, with the rest ending up in water bodies and the atmosphere, harming the environment.

“Scientists at the University of California at Davis have developed varieties of wheat that stimulate the production of their own fertilizer, opening the way to reducing air and water pollution around the world and reducing farmers’ costs,” the publication says.

The report notes that scientists have used genetic modification technologies to make plants produce excesses of certain chemicals. When they enter the soil, a reaction is triggered that results in the formation of fertilizer.

According to Eduardo Blumwald, a professor at the university’s plant science department, the discovery could play a major role in ensuring food security by increasing the productivity of small farms in Africa.

Tags: wheat, fertilizers