Brazil agency approves cultivation of GMO wheat in the country (updated)

Bioceres Crop Solutions

03/03/2023 13:20

(Adds context, Bioceres confirmation)
    By Maximilian Heath and Ana Mano
       SAO PAULO, March 3 (Reuters) - Brazilian biosecurity
agency CTNbio has approved cultivation of a drought-resistant
genetically modified wheat in the country, according to a
decision published on its website, making Brazil the second
country after Argentina to grant such a permission in the world.
    The approval request was made by Tropical Melhoramento e
Genetica, a partner in Brazil of Argentina's Bioceres  BIOX.O ,
which developed the GMO wheat.
        In a statement, Bioceres confirmed Brazil has concluded
the safety evaluation of its HB4 wheat, providing full approval
for commercialization and cultivation for it in the country.
  
        In an earnings call, Bioceres said that under severe
drought conditions, the company's HB4 GMO wheat "showed higher
yields than conventional varieties across all environments, with
an average 43% yield improvement in targeted environments."
  
        In November 2021, 
    Brazil became
     the first country to in the world to allow imports of flour
made with genetically modified wheat.
  
        That decision spurred a global discussion about
genetically modified wheat, as prices rose and concerns grew
that more severe weather could threaten food security. 
  
        Genetically modified soybeans and corn have long been
accepted on global markets, but are primarily fed to livestock
rather than humans.    

 (Reporting by Maximilian Heath in Buenos Aires and Ana Mano
Ana Mano in São Paulo; Editing by Steven Grattan)
 ((ana.mano@thomsonreuters.com; Tel: +55-11-5644-7704; Mob:
+55-119-4470-4529; Reuters Messaging:
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