Refinitiv Newscasts - Argentina rolls dice on GM wheat

Bioceres Crop Solutions

20/09/2022 16:04

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Source: Reuters

Description: Near the Argentine farm town of Pergamino, spiky green shoots of
young wheat plants stretch in neat rows to the horizon. It is a familiar
sight, with a key and controversial difference: a single added gene to make
the crop more resistant to drought. Francis Maguire has more.
Short Link: https://refini.tv/3Ut76Oa

Video Transcript:

Near the Argentine farm town of Pergamino, wheat fields are a common sight.
But there is one key, and controversial, difference here, some are genetically
modified to be more resistant to drought. This field is one of more than a
dozen test sites for the wheat strain called HB4. Raquel Chan was part of the
development team.

Transgenics are not monsters, it’s an almost indistinguishable plant from
another one. The difference is that it endures better when it lacks water.
This is something that could have happened in nature.

The HB4 strain is the first transgenic wheat to win regulatory approvals
anywhere in the world. It was developed by local firm Bioceres. Supporters say
it could help stop food crises by improving wheat yield, with Russia's
invasion of major producer Ukraine throwing that argument into sharper focus.
Historic droughts in China, the US and Europe have also raised fears about the
future of food production. But there are doubters, with some warning that
genetically modified wheat could get into regular stockpiles of grain. That
raised the threat that importers could ban supply over fears of contamination.
Julio Calzada is chief economic analyst at the Rosario grains exchange.

The main concern is the possibility that GM wheat and non-GM wheat could end
up mixing. This could spark bans in international markets and Argentina needs
these $4.5 billion dollars in exports. They're key at such a complicated
moment for the country's macroeconomy.

Argentina has approved the strain for commercialization. HB4 has also gained
approvals in neighboring Brazil, as well as Nigeria and Australia