In the midst of the worst global grain shortage in decades, two lines of Australian biotech wheat have out-yielded current wheats by 20 percent - even under drought stress.
"Around the world, 35–50 percent of the wheat-growing areas are under drought risk. The number of drought-affected wheat growing areas is likely to increase with the effects of climate change" John Brumby, of Victoria, Australia told his audience. "These initial results are very promising, and suggest that these genetically modified wheat lines may be part of the solution to help farmers maintain and improve their crop yields in a changing global environment."
Australia is the world's driest continent and Victoria's wheat crop was significantly reduced by drought in 2006/2007. U.S. wheat stocks were cut to an 11-year low this winter by drought that spread last year from Texas through bone-dry Missouri and nearly to the Canadian border.
Researchers are also working on heat-tolerant wheat varieties, examining wild relatives of the wheat plant for DNA that would help wheat to tolerate higher temperatures for longer periods without sacrificing yield. Biotechnology would permit such DNA to be inserted into wheat varieties that already have high yields and good baking characteristics.
Comment by: City Worker (Jul-5-2008)
I think it is fabulous that a wheat has been found that may ease the world food shortage, but is that enough? Although it bothers me to say that anyone should give up their right to have children, I believe it is important that we gently add into the equation the fact that our planet will become unsustainable partially because of the explosive world population growth rate. Even if we are able to halt global warming – if we were able to maintain the planet’s environmental condition just as it is at this very moment , and even if we are able to shift successfully to alternatives to fossil fuels, I wonder if we will be able to maintain our planet as it is --- assuming we are willing to consider current conditions as acceptable – unless we, the human race, stop growing explosively. I would also like to add that I wish people would move away from considering ethanol as an alternative to fossil fuels. We are having a hard enough time feeding the world population. Why take even one grain away that is now used to feed people directly or indirectly, unless it will be used to make more than one grain?
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