USDA Investigating Detection of Genetically Engineered (GE) Wheat in Washington State

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed the discovery of genetically engineered wheat plants growing in an unplanted agricultural field in Washington State. The GE wheat in question is resistant to glyphosate, commonly referred to as Round Up.
There is no evidence that GE wheat has entered the food supply.
The National Association of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Associates, in a joint statement, acknowledged they are aware of the announcement from APHIS.
We believe APHIS is well prepared to identify additional information about this discovery and has confirmed to us that:
- there is no evidence suggesting that this wheat event, or any other GM wheat event has entered U.S. commercial supplies or entered the food supply;
- there are no GE wheat varieties for sale or in commercial production in the United States at this time, as APHIS has not deregulated any GE wheat varieties;
- there is no health risk associated with glyphosate resistance events in wheat based on U.S. Food and Drug Administration evaluations
We appreciate that USDA is collaborating with our organizations and our state, industry and trading partners to provide timely and transparent information about their findings as they investigate this discovery. We understand samples of the wheat plants from the field in Washington were sent to the USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service lab in Kansas City, MO, as well as USDA Agricultural Research lab in Pullman, WA, for testing and confirmation.
We cannot speculate or comment about any potential market reactions until we have a chance to discuss the situation in more detail with overseas customers. Based on what we know today from APHIS, we are confident that nothing has changed the U.S. wheat supply chain’s ability to deliver wheat that matches every customer’s specifications.
USDA says they are collaborating with our state, industry and trading partners, and we are committed to providing all our partners with timely and transparent information about our findings.
There are no GE wheat varieties for sale or in commercial production in the United States at this time, as APHIS has not deregulated any GE wheat varieties.
After previous detections of GE wheat, USDA strengthened its oversight of regulated GE wheat field trials. APHIS now requires developers to apply for a permit for field trials involving GE wheat beginning with GE wheat planted on or after January 1, 2016. Bringing GE wheat under permit enables APHIS to create and enforce permit conditions that ensure confinement and minimize the risk that the regulated GE wheat will persist in the environment.
Sources: USDA’s APHIS, NAWG and US Wheat Associates