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Argentina Looks to Cross Wheat with Gene1 from Sunflowers

Argentina is one of the world's top wheat producers, worth about $4.5 billion yearly to the country's economy. But climate conditions like long periods of severe dryness and rising temperatures worry the country's farmers.

Argentina is about to learn whether a genetically3 engineered new wheat might ease some agricultural concerns for the future.

Scientists and farmers in Argentina are testing a genetically modified version of wheat known as HB4. It uses a gene taken from sunflowers. If successful, Argentina could keep its position as one of the world's top wheat exporters.

The gene from sunflowers is useful because the flowers can grow well in places where temperatures are high and water is not plentiful4. The farmers in Argentina would like their wheat to grow the same way.

If the HB4 test is successful, Argentina might become the world's first producer of this stronger kind of wheat. Scientists say the HB4 wheat should be able to produce 20 percent more than a traditional wheat crop under hot and dry conditions.

Argentina is the first nation to approve genetically modified wheat for commercial use. However, the product is not yet on the market.

Companies that support HB4 say having a stronger kind of wheat could help prevent food shortages during times of drought and war.

Right now for example, China and countries in North America and Europe are at lower than usual levels of wheat production because of drought. Russia's war in Ukraine has also reduced the world's wheat supply.

Many environmental and consumer groups question the safety and reasonability of modified grain. They suggest that an unexpected modification5 could hurt the supply of bread, pasta and other important foods. Agricultural companies, however, point to the success of genetically modified soy and corn that is often used to feed animals.

The Reuters news agency went to see the test wheat field in the Argentinian town of Pergamino. Argentinian company Bioceres planted the crop with the help of government scientists.

Raquel Chan is a biochemist and a researcher for a group run by the Argentinian government. She helped develop HB4. Bioceres then purchased the rights to work with the wheat strain.

The developers are doing their best to be sure the modified wheat does not contaminate other wheat.

Chan said some people do not understand enough about the modified wheat. She said the product is "almost indistinguishable" from traditional wheat.

Chan noted6 that such genetic2 change in nature is a very slow process.

"Normally, it takes thousands of years. We just did it faster," she said

The wheat is also being tested in Brazil.

Julio Calzada is a chief economic expert in Argentina's grain selling market in the port of Rosario.

He said there could be risk in planting the modified grain before world markets are ready for it. The main concern, he said, is that the traditional and modified grain could end up mixing.

"This could spark bans in international markets, and Argentina needs the $4.5 billion in exports. They're key at such a complicated moment..." he said.

In the United States, the government recently gave permission to a number of companies to test modified wheat, records show. Reuters contacted those companies and they all said they do not plan to sell modified wheat.

Bioceres said it is trying to get permission from the governments in Australia and the U.S. to test HB4 in those countries.

The path to acceptance for modified wheat is a slow one. Indonesia, one of the top buyers of wheat from Argentina, said it would not yet purchase the HB4 wheat. But on the other hand, Brazil, another one of Argentina's large customers, might soon approve HB4 wheat. Brazil already permits flour made from HB4 wheat.

Rubens Barbosa is the president of Brazil's flour-making business group. He said the HB4 seeds will produce more wheat than regular seeds. He said it is worth being optimistic about Brazil's ability to produce its own wheat if it starts using HB4.

In the fields where the HB4 wheat is planted, there are no special barriers keeping one field apart from another. But Bioceres pays farmers extra to be careful and keep track of the seeds and the modified wheat once it is harvested.

Federico Trucco is the leader of Bioceres. He said the special attention to the HB4 wheat helps people feel safe about the modifications7. Trucco told Reuters he believes people around the world are starting to accept the idea of wheat that can grow under severe conditions.

Chan, the scientist who worked on the modification, said wheat has a protein that helps the plant grow if there is a reduction in water. But the addition of the gene from the sunflower is like what happens when a soccer team adds a player like Lionel Messi.

"The sunflower lends it a good gene. Imagine yourself as a team of soccer players ... if you add in Messi to the mix you will obviously do better."

Words in This Story

modify –v. to change some parts of (something) while not changing other parts

commercial –adj. related to or used in the buying and selling of goods and services

drought –n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain

consumer –n. a person who buys goods and services

strain –n. a group of closely related plants or animals

contaminate –v. to make (something) dangerous, dirty, or impure8 by adding something harmful or undesirable9 to it

indistinguishable –adj. unable to be recognized as different : impossible to distinguish clearly from something else

spark –v. to cause (something) to start or happen

key–adj. extremely important

complicated –adj. hard to understand, explain, or deal with

lend –v. to add (something that is needed or wanted) to (something)


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1 gene WgKxx     
n.遗传因子,基因
参考例句:
  • A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
  • The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。
2 genetic PgIxp     
adj.遗传的,遗传学的
参考例句:
  • It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
  • Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。
3 genetically Lgixo     
adv.遗传上
参考例句:
  • All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
  • Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物
4 plentiful r2izH     
adj.富裕的,丰富的
参考例句:
  • Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
  • Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。
5 modification tEZxm     
n.修改,改进,缓和,减轻
参考例句:
  • The law,in its present form,is unjust;it needs modification.现行的法律是不公正的,它需要修改。
  • The design requires considerable modification.这个设计需要作大的修改。
6 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
7 modifications aab0760046b3cea52940f1668245e65d     
n.缓和( modification的名词复数 );限制;更改;改变
参考例句:
  • The engine was pulled apart for modifications and then reassembled. 发动机被拆开改型,然后再组装起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The original plan had undergone fairly extensive modifications. 原计划已经作了相当大的修改。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 impure NyByW     
adj.不纯净的,不洁的;不道德的,下流的
参考例句:
  • The air of a big city is often impure.大城市的空气往往是污浊的。
  • Impure drinking water is a cause of disease.不洁的饮用水是引发疾病的一个原因。
9 undesirable zp0yb     
adj.不受欢迎的,不良的,不合意的,讨厌的;n.不受欢迎的人,不良分子
参考例句:
  • They are the undesirable elements among the employees.他们是雇员中的不良分子。
  • Certain chemicals can induce undesirable changes in the nervous system.有些化学物质能在神经系统中引起不良变化。

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