09.08.2016

Genetically modified wheat discovered in USA

A farmer discovered 22 plants of the genetically engineered wheat event MON 71700 on an unplanted field in Washington, USA. The wheat is resistant to the herbicide glyphosate.

Thorough controls initiated

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) initiated thorough precautionary examinations on the farmer's entire wheat harvest in order to avoid wheat contaminated with GMO moving into commerce.

Between 1998 and 2001 MON 71700 underwent several field trials. However, the event has never been approved for cultivation and thus has never been commercialized. The developer, Monsanto, has now provided a rapid test for importers to check shipments for GM wheat.

Detection at ifp's laboratory

ifp Institut für Produktqualität is offering a real-time PCR screening for genetically modified wheat. A wheat sample that is positive for GMO - no matter which event - is generally not marketable because there are no existing approvals for GM wheat in the EU.