The Biden administration has determined that Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp.’s drought-resistant HB4 wheat does not require further regulation, bringing the Argentine agriculture technology firm closer to introducing the first genetically modified wheat to international markets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has indicated that Bioceres’ HB4 wheat, which also features herbicide resistance, is unlikely to present an increased plant pest threat and “may be safely grown and bred in the United States.”
According to a spokesperson from Bioceres, HB4 wheat has now received full approval for production in the U.S., marking it as the fourth country to authorize the grain’s production and commercialization. Previously, the genetically modified wheat has been approved in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.
Bioceres CEO Federico Trucco expressed in May that U.S. approval for the GMO wheat was long anticipated. In response to the announcement, US Wheat Associates commended the decision, expressing confidence that the HB4 trait will offer significant benefits to both farmers and consumers. However, Peter Laudeman, the group’s director of trade policy, highlighted that Bioceres will still need to navigate additional regulatory steps over the coming years before successfully commercializing the HB4 wheat in the U.S.
