KS Wheat CEO Stresses Two Main Points about Future of Biotech Wheat

Update given to wheat buyers in Middle East and East Africa

Dusti Fritz, Kansas Wheat CEO, presented a biotechnology update recently to about 200 key trade contacts for U.S. Wheat Associates’ Middle East/East Africa crop quality seminar participants in Cairo, Egypt; Nairobi, Kenya; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Amman, Jordan.

U.S. Wheat Associates, the American industry’s export market development organization, works with wheat buyers in more than 100 countries through its 18 international offices. Kansas Wheat is the largest state supporter of U.S. Wheat Associates.

Fritz stressed two main points in her discussion with buyers. First, the U.S. is not the only country involved in biotechnology; biotech crops are being embraced globally. Countries which recently began planting biotech crops include India, Iran, France and Portugal.

Fritz referenced an ISAAA 2005 Report, which states that biotech crops are being planted by 8.5 million farmers on 222 million acres in 21 countries . ISAAA is the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications and has three centers in North America, Africa and South East Asia.

Secondly, Fritz stated U.S. wheat producers want to start a dialogue with buyers all around the world to successfully commercialize a biotech trait in wheat, while at the same time recognizing market concerns and sensitivities.

Potential areas of benefit include herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, virus resistance and drought tolerance. The current U.S. wheat industry biotechnology position statement takes into consideration the needs of producers, consumers and members of the marketing system. It states, “We are confident that biotechnology will deliver significant consumer and producer benefits, and we support continued biotechnology research and product and market development. We invite valued and interested customers to join with us in a working partnership to explore the emerging biotechnology industry.”

Fritz pointed out that U.S. wheat acres have been decreasing for the past 20 years, while corn and soybean acreages are increasing. Technology -enabled crops have displaced wheat, with yields increasing four times slower than corn yields.

“There is an overall interest and a growing comfort level in talking about biotech in wheat,” Fritz said. “Buyers seem to acknowledge that it is a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if.’ Most buyers are looking for more information. They have perceptions that the United States is the only country working on biotech wheat. Buyers found it interesting that Australia, Canada and European countries are funding or working with others on specific traits. Most buyers commented that if there is science available that proves biotechnology is safe, and the message reaches consumer levels, then worldwide acceptance could be attained.”

Fritz continued, “Specifically in Egypt, the Government is very interested in developing some type of regulatory system that would allow for the introduction of biotech crops to be planted.

“Overall, it was very apparent that education of buyers, and consumers, is still a critical need,” said Fritz. “This ranges from biotechnology, to how the U.S. marketing system works, to varietal development, to wheat production, to how environment impacts the crop.”