Brazil approves cultivation of GMO wheat

Brazil has become the second country in the world after Argentina to approve the cultivation of genetically modified wheat, following a decision by the nation’s biosecurity agency CTNbio. The approval request was made by plant genetics company Tropical Melhoramento e Genetica, a partner in Brazil of Argentina’s Bioceres, which has developed a variety of water-stress resistant GMO wheat known as HB4. In a statement, Bioceres confirmed Brazil had concluded a safety evaluation of HB4, providing full approval for its commercialization and cultivation in the country. Brazil has been growing domestic wheat using conventional plants adapted to local climate conditions, but still relies on supplier Argentina for sizeable imports. Brazil plants about 3 million hectares (741,316 acres) with wheat, mostly in southern states like Rio Grande do Sul and Parana. Sowing drought-resistant wheat may be appealing to farmers in that region, where crops such as corn and soybeans have recently faced ...