HB4 wheat: USDA approves drought-tolerant wheat to be grown in the U.S.

On Aug. 27, upon completing a regulatory status review, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) deregulated the first transgenic trait for wheat, determining HB4 wheat can be safely grown for commercial use in the U.S. 

Developed by Argentina-based Bioceres Crop Solutions (Bioceres), the HB4 wheat variety is genetically modified to tolerate drought, which is a useful tool for growers plagued with ongoing drought conditions. 

The agency’s approval of HB4 wheat makes the U.S. the fourth nation in the world to green light production behind Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. 

HB4 wheat

According to an Aug. 28 Progressive Farmer article written by DTN Editor Jason Jenkins, HB4 wheat contains HaHB4, “a transcription factor isolated from sunflowers which modulates the expression of several hundred genes providing drought tolerance.”

When grown in drought conditions, this strain of wheat is able to generate more antioxidant and osmoprotectant molecules, which delays deterioration of cells and allows the plant to maintain photosynthesis until it is watered again.

“In an interview with DTN earlier this year, Martin Mariani Ventura, global seeds and traits manager at Bioceres, said data from three seasons of field trials in 34 different locations in Argentina showed when environmental conditions limited yields to less than 30 bushels per acre, varieties with HB4 technology yielded 38 percent more on average than the same wheat variety without the technology,” Jenkins writes.

“The increase was even more pronounced – 51 percent more on average – when looking at data from 2022-23, a season during which Argentina suffered through a major drought,” he adds.

In addition to being drought tolerant, HB4 wheat has also been genetically modified to tolerate the glufosinate herbicide.

Industry-wide benefits 

“Deregulating a genetically-modified trait in wheat for the first time in history is a really exciting step forward for the industry,” says U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Director of Policy Peter Laudeman during an RFD-TV broadcast on Sept. 4.

During the program, Laudeman shares producers and consumers alike will benefit from a hardy, drought-tolerant wheat variety. 

“I think the benefits are two-fold and go all the way from producers to wheat buyers and consumers,” he says.

“Production variability is one of the biggest challenges in wheat production and drought is certainly a big component of this,” Laudeman explains. “Almost every major wheat growing region in the U.S. has had varying levels of drought impact in recent years, which has made it a real challenge to stay competitive in export markets. I think HB4 has potential to bring tangible benefits back to producers.” 

Laudeman further notes if HB4 is able to stabilize production during drought, producers will be able to provide a more consistent, reliable and high-quality wheat product to consumers all over the world, while simultaneously stabilizing prices at the grocery store.

In addition, Laudeman points out one of the biggest benefits of USDA’s HB4 wheat approval is the opportunity it creates for other products like it in the ag industry. 

“The other side of the equation is even bigger than HB4 wheat,” he states. “With this being the first trait through the regulatory system, it creates a really big opportunity for other companies who have been doing great research or who have products sitting on the shelf.” 

“Bioceres has paved the way and opened the door for other traits to bring benefits from the producer to the consumer,” he continues. 

A positive reaction 

USDA’s announcement of HB4 wheat approval has garnered praise from other industry organizations as well. 

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) released a statement thanking USDA for its decision to provide “a robust, science-based process which affords a pathway for the cultivation of the HB4 trait in the U.S.”

“As a wheat grower who has experienced drought firsthand, it is exciting to see a regulatory pathway where drought-tolerant wheat might be available to producers in the future,” says Oklahoma Wheat Grower and NAWG President Keeff Felty. “Over the past few years, wheat producers across major wheat producing regions have had to grapple with intense drought, and continued innovations like HB4 can be a tool to help growers protect and stabilize their yields.”

“Wherever wheat is grown in the world, drought takes its toll on yields and quality, so an innovation like HB4 holds a lot of interest for growers like me,” says Michael Peters, USW past chairman and Oklahoma wheat grower. “With global demand for wheat hitting new records almost every year, there is concern about variable production. A drought-tolerant trait offers more stable, sustainable production.”

Pacific Northwest Wheat (PNW) representatives from Idaho, Washington and Oregon comment, “The PNW wheat industry supports and encourages new technologies which increase producer profitability and will help feed the growing world population. At the same time, we remain committed to providing our customers with the quality and reliability they have come to expect from PNW wheat.”

Steps forward

While this announcement is no doubt exciting for the industry, Laudeman points out regulatory approval does not equate to a commercial launch of the product. 

“We are still probably a minimum of three to five years away from actually being able to buy a trait like HB4, but in the meantime there are still a lot of exciting things happening,” he says. 

Laudeman notes Bioceres will continue taking steps forward to reach commercialization, while engaging with export markets to gain their approval of the transgenic trait as well. 

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.