It is hoped that the new crops will withstand drought better and bring more certainty to food production.
19:12•Updated 19:12
Brazil approved the cultivation of a genetically modified wheat variety on Friday, Reuters news agency reported.
HB4 wheat developed by Tropical Melhoramento e Genetica was assessed by the country’s authorities as safe and suitable for commercial use.
Brazil thus becomes the second country in the world after Argentina to accept the cultivation and use of genetically modified plants for human consumption.
In the past, genetically modified soybeans and corn have been accepted in world trade, but they have mainly been used as animal feed.
According to the Tropical Melhoramento e Genetica company, HB4 wheat is now approved for human consumption also in the United States, Colombia, New Zealand, Australia and for animal feeding in Indonesia.
Produces a better crop
In Brazil, wheat is cultivated on an area of about three million hectares. The country has increased wheat cultivation in recent years, but it still has to import a lot of wheat from Argentina.
In Brazil, cultivation is concentrated in the southern parts of the country. Genetically modified wheat varieties are hoped to be an attractive alternative in areas where corn and soybeans suffer from drought.
According to its developer, HB4 wheat has produced a 43 percent better yield than conventional varieties.
In November 2021, Brazil became the first country in the world to approve the export of flour made from genetically modified wheat. The policy in question sparked a global discussion about genetically modified wheat, which has been seen to contribute to improving the world’s food security.
In the development of crops that are better able to withstand harsher conditions, the background is the concern about climate change, which makes cultivation even more difficult in certain areas.
Source: Reuters