Brazilian Embrapa develops GM soybean resistant to drought

Date:02-19-2014

Embrapa, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, is developing a new type of genetically modified soybean resistant to drought. According to Alexander Nepomuceno, one of the people responsible for the research, there is still not forecast for production and market release for this new variety.

"There is no set date. The technology is there, but we are missing some results, besides the relevant biosafety studies,"said Nepomuceno to EfeAgency. The survey, which is conducted in partnership with Japanese institutions, is now under "field tests" that link the evolution of resistance and new cultivars.

Embrapa’s transgenic soybean mainly benefits producers in Southern Brazil. The area suffers from repeated droughts, and this year had one of the hottest and driest summers of all times.

According to the head of Manufacturing Technology at Embrapa, Alexandre Jose Catellan, the goal of the research is that soybean has a "lowest price". For this, the institution intends to "form several companies marketing the final product," said Nepomuceno.