Wheat growers approve biotech petition

The National Association of Wheat Growers released the final results from its biotech survey at the Commodity Classic, Feb. 26. More than three-quarters of American growers who responded said they would be in favor of biotechnology in wheat.

The survey was commissioned by NAWG as a project of the NAWG Foundation and questioned wheat growers about their views on commercialization of biotechnological traits in wheat. NAWG representatives have explained that while many wheat producers have stated they would support a biotech trait in their crop, and national organizations have voted to support biotech trait commercialization, private technology providers needed further reassurance.

"Until now, there has only been speculation about the breadth of grower support for biotechnology in wheat," said NAWG CEO Daren Coppock. "This petition was designed to gather those answers from across our wheat producing areas, and now we have an objective and clear answer."

As of the announcement, the survey had a 32 percent response rate, with approval rates similar across states and farm sizes. It was mailed to a list of about 21,000 producers in January and February. Producers surveyed had more than 500 acres of wheat, and 1,000 total acres in production.

In the High Plains Journal/Midwest Ag Journal coverage area, Kansas had the highest number of responses, with 1,448, out of a total 4,530 surveyed. Of those, 76 percent were in support of commercializing biotech wheats.

The other Journal states responded as follows:
—Colorado, 85 percent in favor;
—Missouri, 79 percent in favor;
—Montana, 76 percent in favor;
—Nebraska, 81 percent in favor;
—New Mexico, 92 percent in favor;
—Oklahoma, 79 percent in favor;
—South Dakota, 74 percent in favor;
—and, Texas, 79 percent in favor.

NAWG and many other wheat industry groups believe biotechnology will be key to the future competitiveness of wheat as a crop. With wheat acres on a steady decline, and other crops with biotech traits competing for acres, and the need to feed more people on more acres, biotech has the potential to provide various agronomic and consumer advantages.

NAWG will take these results to the public, trait providers and others in the wheat value chain to educate them and to move forward in the progress of commercializing a biotech wheat.

For more information, visit www.wheatworld.org/biotech.