Argentina Looks to Cross Wheat with Gene from Sunflowers
2022-10-10
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1Argentina is one of the world's top wheat producers, worth about $4.5 billion yearly to the country's economy.
2But climate conditions like long periods of severe dryness and rising temperatures worry the country's farmers.
3Argentina is about to learn whether a genetically engineered new wheat might ease some agricultural concerns for the future.
4Scientists and farmers in Argentina are testing a genetically modified version of wheat known as HB4.
5It uses a gene taken from sunflowers.
6If successful, Argentina could keep its position as one of the world's top wheat exporters.
7The gene from sunflowers is useful because the flowers can grow well in places where temperatures are high and water is not plentiful.
8The farmers in Argentina would like their wheat to grow the same way.
9If the HB4 test is successful, Argentina might become the world's first producer of this stronger kind of wheat.
10Scientists say the HB4 wheat should be able to produce 20 percent more than a traditional wheat crop under hot and dry conditions.
11Argentina is the first nation to approve genetically modified wheat for commercial use.
12However, the product is not yet on the market.
13Companies that support HB4 say having a stronger kind of wheat could help prevent food shortages during times of drought and war.
14Right now for example, China and countries in North America and Europe are at lower than usual levels of wheat production because of drought.
15Russia's war in Ukraine has also reduced the world's wheat supply.
16Many environmental and consumer groups question the safety and reasonability of modified grain.
17They suggest that an unexpected modification could hurt the supply of bread, pasta and other important foods.
18Agricultural companies, however, point to the success of genetically modified soy and corn that is often used to feed animals.
19The Reuters news agency went to see the test wheat field in the Argentinian town of Pergamino.
20Argentinian company Bioceres planted the crop with the help of government scientists.
21Raquel Chan is a biochemist and a researcher for a group run by the Argentinian government.
22She helped develop HB4. Bioceres then purchased the rights to work with the wheat strain.
23The developers are doing their best to be sure the modified wheat does not contaminate other wheat.
24Chan said some people do not understand enough about the modified wheat.
25She said the product is "almost indistinguishable" from traditional wheat.
26Chan noted that such genetic change in nature is a very slow process.
27"Normally, it takes thousands of years. We just did it faster," she said
28The wheat is also being tested in Brazil.
29Julio Calzada is a chief economic expert in Argentina's grain selling market in the port of Rosario.
30He said there could be risk in planting the modified grain before world markets are ready for it.
31The main concern, he said, is that the traditional and modified grain could end up mixing.
32"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.
33In the United States, the government recently gave permission to a number of companies to test modified wheat, records show.
34Reuters contacted those companies and they all said they do not plan to sell modified wheat.
35Bioceres said it is trying to get permission from the governments in Australia and the U.S. to test HB4 in those countries.
36The path to acceptance for modified wheat is a slow one.
37Indonesia, one of the top buyers of wheat from Argentina, said it would not yet purchase the HB4 wheat.
38But on the other hand, Brazil, another one of Argentina's large customers, might soon approve HB4 wheat.
39Brazil already permits flour made from HB4 wheat.
40Rubens Barbosa is the president of Brazil's flour-making business group.
41He said the HB4 seeds will produce more wheat than regular seeds.
42He said it is worth being optimistic about Brazil's ability to produce its own wheat if it starts using HB4.
43In the fields where the HB4 wheat is planted, there are no special barriers keeping one field apart from another.
44But Bioceres pays farmers extra to be careful and keep track of the seeds and the modified wheat once it is harvested.
45Federico Trucco is the leader of Bioceres.
46He said the special attention to the HB4 wheat helps people feel safe about the modifications.
47Trucco told Reuters he believes people around the world are starting to accept the idea of wheat that can grow under severe conditions.
48Chan, the scientist who worked on the modification, said wheat has a protein that helps the plant grow if there is a reduction in water.
49But the addition of the gene from the sunflower is like what happens when a soccer team adds a player like Lionel Messi.
50"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."
51I'm Caty Weaver. And I'm Dan Friedell.
1Argentina 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. 2Argentina is about to learn whether a genetically engineered new wheat might ease some agricultural concerns for the future. 3Scientists 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. 4The gene from sunflowers is useful because the flowers can grow well in places where temperatures are high and water is not plentiful. The farmers in Argentina would like their wheat to grow the same way. 5If 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. 6Argentina is the first nation to approve genetically modified wheat for commercial use. However, the product is not yet on the market. 7Companies that support HB4 say having a stronger kind of wheat could help prevent food shortages during times of drought and war. 8Right 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. 9Many environmental and consumer groups question the safety and reasonability of modified grain. They suggest that an unexpected modification 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. 10The 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. 11Raquel 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. 12The developers are doing their best to be sure the modified wheat does not contaminate other wheat. 13Chan said some people do not understand enough about the modified wheat. She said the product is "almost indistinguishable" from traditional wheat. 14Chan noted that such genetic change in nature is a very slow process. 15"Normally, it takes thousands of years. We just did it faster," she said 16The wheat is also being tested in Brazil. 17Julio Calzada is a chief economic expert in Argentina's grain selling market in the port of Rosario. 18He 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. 19"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. 20In 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. 21Bioceres said it is trying to get permission from the governments in Australia and the U.S. to test HB4 in those countries. 22The 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. 23Rubens 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. 24In 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. 25Federico Trucco is the leader of Bioceres. He said the special attention to the HB4 wheat helps people feel safe about the modifications. Trucco told Reuters he believes people around the world are starting to accept the idea of wheat that can grow under severe conditions. 26Chan, 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. 27"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." 28I'm Caty Weaver. And I'm Dan Friedell. 29Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by Reuters. 30________________________________________________________________________ 31Words in This Story 32modify -v. to change some parts of (something) while not changing other parts 33commercial -adj. related to or used in the buying and selling of goods and services 34drought -n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain 35consumer -n. a person who buys goods and services 36strain -n. a group of closely related plants or animals 37contaminate -v. to make (something) dangerous, dirty, or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it 38indistinguishable -adj. unable to be recognized as different : impossible to distinguish clearly from something else 39spark -v. to cause (something) to start or happen 40key-adj. extremely important 41complicated -adj. hard to understand, explain, or deal with 42lend -v. to add (something that is needed or wanted) to (something) 43_______________________________________________________________________ 44We want to hear from you. Do you think the world is ready for modified wheat? 45We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 46Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.