There is no approved biotech trait in wheat, which is the only major grain that has not been genetically altered. However, Monsanto developed Round Up Ready wheat and received FDA food safety certification, but faced too much resistance to bring it to market. Their biotech wheat research program was discontinued roughly ten years ago and all plant materials were destroyed or turned over to USDA.
Until a few plants were discovered in an Oregon field this spring.
In a conference call last week, Monsanto?s Chief Technology Officer Dr. Rob Fraley, gave a detailed statement of what they know and what they have done.
With harvest approaching, our total effort is focused on supporting our farmer customers, and sustaining the confidence in our grain harvest, and ensuring that international markets remain open.
There has been no detection of the CP4 event in commercial seed or grain, period.
Monsanto?s sleuthing has turned up several inconsistencies in the wheat found as compared to what the farmer planted. Fraley says Monsanto tested the wheat stored and planted by the farm where the offending wheat was found, as well as the grain in the surrounding area. Monsanto found zero kernels that carried any biotech trait, according to Fraley. Now USDA is investigating, but Monsanto wants some of the plant material that was discovered, in order to track it back to its origin.
Lawsuits against Monsanto over the finding are pending, and foreign customers now have a detection method that will allow all wheat shipments from the United States to be ascertained to be biotech-free.
Click here for more information on the news conference and Monsanto’s investigation.
