A new drought-tolerant wheat variety can now be brought to the market. USDA recently deregulated HB4 wheat. Peter Laudeman, director of trade policy for U.S. Wheat Associates, says they support the move.
“U.S. Wheat Associates has been supportive of, for a long time, through our joint wheat industry principles for commercialization, which is a really big mouthful to say, ‘Hey, we’re supportive of science-based technologies.’ These are some of the parameters and guidelines that we want to see to make sure it’s stewarded and brought to market in the right way. But this is kind of one big step in the process, as we still look at probably a minimum of three to five-plus years before you’d see an actual commercial product. Nonetheless, the regulatory process is a really important part of the journey, and excited to see it.”
Bioceres is the company that received approval from USDA for the variety. The company will now work toward bringing the drought-tolerant germplasm to the U.S and get it through to the market channels. Laudeman says Bioceres will also have to work with other countries to accept the new variety.
“Look at our key export markets, like if a U.S. grower is going to grow this, that it has an export channel to go to as well, especially for a crop like wheat that’s so dependent on exports, with about half of what we grow in a given year going to those export customers. That’s a conversation we’ve had already with Bioceres and have had on an ongoing basis as we work closely with them. They know that’s part of our principles for commercialization that I mentioned.”