Australian authorities began preparing for a large-scale trial of genetically modified wheat on May 24, Reuters reports.
The company imported several thousand wheat seeds in 2024, including hundreds of new genetic variations created by the American agricultural company Inari, according to Tress Walmsley, chief executive of Australian breeder InterGrain.
The state company intends to grow hundreds of varieties of new wheat, which should be 10% more productive.
“Our goal is to discover which combination of genes gives the best results. Our goal is to increase returns by at least 10%. “These seeds have the potential to achieve this goal.”Walmsley said.
Gene editing is a technique that proponents say can create more nutritious, resilient crops with higher yields and less need for water, fertilizers and chemicals.
Unlike genetic modification (GMO), gene editing does not involve the introduction of foreign DNA fragments, but instead manipulates the existing native genome. The method allows changes in more than one gene, providing a broader range of modifications.
Regulators and scientists in countries such as the United States and Japan consider the method to be less risky than GMOs and closer to traditional plant breeding, making it easier to approve.
“We want to address food security, climate change and agricultural profitability at the same time.”said Inari CEO Ponsi Trivisvavet.
Australia is one of the world’s largest wheat exporters. Walmsley said InterGrain is working to create regulations for the sale of genetically modified crops to its export markets.
The European Union is working on the same, and China, the largest producer and consumer of wheat, approved the planting of wheat genetically edited to resist diseases in May 2024.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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