Indonesia approved GMO drought-tolerant wheat from Argentina

BUENOS AIRES : The Indonesian government has approved a variety of GMO wheat for human consumption designed to better resist drought, leading Argentine biotech firm Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp and developer of the HB4 wheat told Reuters on Thursday. The latest HB4 wheat authorization moves beyond the genetically modified grain's approved use in animal feed, and comes at a time when a large swath of Argentina's most-productive farmland has been hard hit by historic drought conditions. The authorization by the Asian country marks a milestone for GMO wheat, which was considered taboo among many consumers until just a few years ago, but has gained more acceptance due in part to concerns about food security and climate change. Indonesia is the largest global wheat importer along with Egypt, while Argentina is one of the world's top grains suppliers. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecast, Indonesian buyers are expected to purchase 11 million tonnes of wheat ...