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Report: Testing of GM wheat possible within two years

Monsanto could start field testing genetically modified wheat within one to two years, but remains cautious about future commercialization.  That’s according to one of the company’s top wheat technology executives, in recent comments published in The Brock Report.

Monsanto abandoned biotech wheat in May 2004 amid heavy opposition from buyers and growers, but announced it was restarting wheat research last year.  The company’s wheat research is still at the early “Phase 1” level, which translates to testing various genes to see what might work.

The report says several rival seed companies, including Syngenta and BASF, are also working on developing GM wheat varieties.