This is one of our top stories of 2024, as we look back on the biggest newsmakers of the year.
Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp. has just achieved a major milestone with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) giving the green light to its HB4 wheat technology.
The USDA’s favourable Regulatory Status Review (RSR), conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has determined that HB4 wheat does not pose any increased plant pest risk compared to conventional wheat. This ruling effectively clears the path for HB4 wheat production in the United States, which ranks as the fourth largest wheat producer globally and the largest in the Americas.
This USDA approval is a significant addition to the HB4 wheat platform, which had already received a nod from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food and feed use. The U.S. now joins Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay as the latest country to approve the production of HB4 wheat.
Beyond these regions, the technology has been authorized for food and feed use in countries including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria, and Indonesia. Australia, a key wheat-producing nation facing growing water shortages, recently granted Bioceres a license to conduct field trials — an essential step towards future production.
Bioceres will share more details on its HB4 wheat platform during its upcoming Earnings Call on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 8:30 a.m. ET. This USDA approval could mark a pivotal moment for Bioceres as it seeks to solidify its presence in the global wheat market while addressing pressing agricultural challenges like drought tolerance and food security.
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