Monsanto, one of the largest agricultural companies which have branches in many countries. Monsanto is the organization that starts researching and selling GM wheat.
Currently there are 448 field trials being carried out on GM wheat which are mainly under European Union and United States. Other than that, Canada, Argentina, Japan, China, Australia and Switzerland also are involved with the field trials.
So far, there is no cultivation of GM wheat in any of the countries.
Apparently, USA had already approved GM wheat as foodstuff/feed. However, there were agrobiotech concern which made Monsanto stop their plans in marketing GM wheat and currently, other countries that applied for legalization for GM wheat had also withdrawn their application.
Reasons why some of the countries reject GM Wheat
Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) oppose to the idea.
The main reason is because the consumers strongly opposed due to the labeling issues to differentiate between the GM wheat and Non-GM wheat products.
Japan & Korea did not legalize GM wheat.
There have been large scale opposition movements toward GM wheat and that a NO! GMO Campaign has been formed whereby there was group petition signed and formal letter submitted to the authorities in Japan, Canada and United States.
Latest press updates in Feb 2010 is that GM wheat is being reject by 233 consumers, farmer groups in 26 countries. The launch of “Definitive Global Rejection of GM Wheat” statement was first launched by 15 Australian, Canadian and US farmers in June 2009
Uses of GM Wheat
Basically there isn’t any difference in the utilization of GM wheat and wheat.
The utilization includes using in
- Wheat bread, flour and bakery products - Noodles and Pastas - Raw material for starch, bran - Animal feed