The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently green lit the cultivation and breeding of HB4 drought-tolerant wheat—a genetically modified trait. The U.S. is the fourth country to approve the use of this GM trait after Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
HB4 wheat contains HaHB4, which is isolated from sunflowers, controls the expression of hundreds of genes that can provide drought tolerance. During drought conditions, HB4 produces more antioxidant and osmoprotectant molecules, which slows down cellular breakdown and allows the plant to continue photosynthesis until it rains. It is also tolerant to certain herbicides, such as glufosinate.
Bernadette Juarez, APHIS deputy administrator for Biotechnology Regulatory Services released a letter on Aug. 27, stating the agency had completed its review of the variety and there was no evidence HB4 would present increased risk to other plants.
“Once APHIS determines that a plant product is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk relative to its comparator, and, thus, is not a plant pest or a plant that requires regulation because it is capable of introducing or disseminating a plant pest, APHIS has no authority to regulate it under 7 CFR part 340,” Juarez said. “Accordingly, your wheat is not subject to the regulations under 7 CFR part 340.”
Commodity groups, such as U.S. Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers have applauded the USDA’s decision and are looking forward to the benefits it can provide wheat growers during drought years.
“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 U.S. Wheat Associates past chairman Michael Peters. “With global demand for wheat hitting new records almost every year, there is concern about variable production.
“A drought-tolerant trait offers more stable, sustainable production. At the same time, it is important that customers who have specific purchase preferences understand the industry supports their ability to purchase the type of wheat they want. That remains our policy after more than 16 years.”
Even though the variety has been deregulated, it will take years for Bioceres Crop Solutions, the company that owns the variety, to complete additional steps to commercialize the seed in the U.S.
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
