Milling Journal - Q2 2008 - (Page 29) GM Wheat May Be Back on Track U.S. growers ready if market says go. As the world faces dwindling wheat stocks and growing hunger in the developing world, resistance to growing genetically modified (GM) wheat could change. The wheat industry in the United States and Canada has been talking about the crop’s future. “I think it is pretty clear that price and supply concerns have people thinking a little bit differently today,” said Steve Mercer, a spokesperson for the export promotion cooperative U.S. Wheat Associates (USW). USW, once cautious about GM wheat in fear of losing export markets, now is encouraging seed companies to restart development of GM wheat and to get nonU.S. buyers to accept it. In January, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) board of directors proposed a new statement of purpose for the organization that reflects the changing times. The proposed statement says: “NAWG unites U.S. wheat growers to create beneficial policies for wheat growers, effective relationships with industry, and profitable opportunities through research and technology.” NAWG Secretary-Treasurer Jerry McReynolds said that one of the intentions of the new mission statement is to spur biotechnology in wheat. Increasing Yields “Biotech wheat is the answer to increasing wheat yields,” said North Dakota Grain Growers Association President Byron Richard. “When you look at other commodities like corn and soybeans, they are making leaps and bounds in production,” Richard said. “We are pushing very aggressively to try to get private industry to look at going back into research to develop biotech wheat that will make us more competitive,” he said. Frank Zaworski, editor Response No. 291 MILLING JOURNAL Second Quarter 2008 29 http://www.fumigationzone.com http://www.fumigationzone.com
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