Argentina, one of the world’s largest grain exporters, was the first country to approve GM wheat in 2020followed by Brazil in 2021, in a trend that could continue if global supply is reduced as a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“Today we are delighted to announce that Australia has approved HB4® Wheat, which is tolerant to water stress. This is a huge step forward”, Bioceres noted on its Twitter account. Australians and New Zealanders share a regulatory body on the matter.
Argentina achieved a record production of 21.8 million tons of wheat in the 2021/21 cycle, although a slight decrease is expected in the next campaign due to unfavorable weather. Our country, also a leading exporter of soybeans and corn, has been a pioneer in the use of transgenics in these two crops.
HB4® wheat is a 100% Argentine development, product of the public-private collaboration of more than 18 years between the company and the research group of the Institute of Agrobiotechnology of the Coast (CONICET-UNL)led by Dr. Rachel Chanresponsible for research that leads to development.
The news comes a week after the Chinese government approved drought-tolerant HB4 soybeans.
“In a context in which the adverse effects of climate change are increasingly frequent, it is no longer about Argentine science providing innovative and unique solutions to the world, but about the world asking for and exponentially needing our technological developments”, commented Gabino Rebagliati, communication manager of Bioceres.
HB4 wheat varieties have a sunflower gene incorporated that increases tolerance to drought conditions, reducing yield losses due to water deficit.
Source: Ambito
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