USDA approves Bioceres HB4 drought tolerant wheat for cultivation

Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ: BIOX) has received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to cultivate its innovative HB4 wheat, designed for enhanced drought tolerance. This approval marks a significant milestone as it allows for the commercial production of HB4 wheat in the U.S., the fourth largest wheat producer globally and the largest in the Americas.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducted a Regulatory Status Review of the HB4 wheat technology, determining it poses no greater plant pest risk than traditional wheat varieties. Consequently, it will not be regulated under the genetic engineering guidelines of 7 CFR part 340.

This development complements the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) previous favorable review of HB4 wheat for food and feed use, further endorsing its safety and efficacy. The approval positions the United States alongside Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, which have already greenlit the production of HB4 wheat.

Bioceres has been actively expanding the reach of its HB4 technology, with food and feed use approvals in multiple countries including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria, Thailand, Indonesia, Colombia, and Chile. In Australia, a major wheat producer facing increasing water shortages, Bioceres has also obtained a license to conduct field trials, gathering data for potential future production approval.