USA—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that genetically modified wheat developed by Argentina’s Bioceres Crop Solutions can be safely grown and bred in the United States.

This wheat, known as HB4, has been modified to tolerate drought conditions, a significant advantage for farmers facing increasingly severe weather patterns.

However, according to industry group U.S. Wheat Associates, Bioceres must still complete several additional steps, including extensive field trials, before HB4 wheat can be commercialized in the U.S. These steps are expected to take several years.

Despite the lengthy process ahead, the USDA’s approval marks a significant milestone, bringing genetically modified wheat closer to production in the U.S.

Genetic modification, which involves altering a plant’s genetic makeup by transferring DNA from one organism to another, is already common in crops such as corn, primarily used for livestock feed.

However, the genetic modification of wheat has faced opposition from some consumer groups due to concerns about human health, as wheat is a staple in bread and pasta, directly consumed by people.

The USDA’s decision on HB4 wheat represents the furthest the agency has ever gone with genetically modified wheat, according to U.S. Wheat Associates.

Bioceres has noted that opposition to genetically modified wheat is diminishing, partly due to rising food prices and the benefits of GM crops in surviving drought and pests, which can help reduce the risk of famine.

This development is seen as a potential boon for farmers struggling with drought and other climate-related challenges.

 “Wherever wheat is grown in the world, drought takes its toll on yields and quality, so an innovation like HB4 holds a lot of interest for growers like me,” said Michael Peters, an Oklahoma wheat farmer and past chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates.

In May, Bioceres began selling genetically modified wheat seeds in Argentina, marking the first time this technology became commercially available to farmers anywhere in the world.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed its review of Bioceres’ wheat in 2022 without further questions, ensuring the safety of food from new GM crops before they enter the market.

Top buyers of U.S. wheat, including Japan, Mexico and Philippines, however, have not approved it.

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