Pacific Northwest Wheat Growers Waiting to Hear APHIS Results

Since last week’s announcement of the discovery of the genetically-engineered wheat in Oregon, Pacific Northwest grain growers have been waiting, like the rest of us to learn more details.

Washington Association of Wheat Growers Immediate Past President Eric Maier shares

Maier: “APHIS has an ongoing investigation and we’re trying not to speculate on the outcome of that investigation until we get some solid information from them. Hopefully that is going to be forth coming, it takes some time to get these things done. It is hard to sit back on the sidelines and wait for that to happen, but I think now we have to be patience, let them do their work, let them get the outcome out there and see what they come up with.”

Although at this time there is no GMO wheat currently approved for commercial use in the U.S. Maier says that the WAWG supports having GMOs as a possible tool in their toolbox. In the future, GMOs may provide possible solutions for consumer’s celiac disease, possibly decrease the need for fertilizer and chemicals as well as providing drought resistance varieties of grains. ?
He reiterates the need for patience during the investigation and says the priority is maintaining the important export markets for Pacific Northwest wheat.

Maier: “I just want to keep those markets and not jeopardize those markets. I think that is the big story here; we can talk about who it was, what variety it was, what cultivar it was, where it was at -- but the main thing is we have to have confidence in the marketplace with our customers and that is the prime objective here.”