Monsanto (NYSE:MON) and Syngenta (NYSE:SYT) are among the major companies working on the development of genetically modified wheat, and news of publication of the gene map of wheat is a major step toward improving their efforts.
While ultimately it could help in developing new wheat varieties, the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium was quick to add they were still a ways from cracking the complicated genetic code of wheat, and there's still a lot of work to be done.
Kellye Eversole, executive director of the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC), said, "This is significant progress. It is a very useful contribution towards the final goal of a genome sequence-based platform for wheat breeding. While we are nowhere near cracking the genetic code and far from having all of the information needed to understand the wheat genome, we are moving forward."
Traits in demand, as in other genetically modified seed, are drought resistance, increased yields, and enhanced response to nitrogen fertilizers.
The immediate value to companies like Monsanto and Syngenta are the probably foundation laid where they can now identify genetic differences between varieties of wheat.
Long term, the interpretation of the data as to what is means is the major challenges ahead.
With corn being the major recipient of research dollars among grains, at a rate of about 20 times the amount, the hope is the breakthrough will encourage more investment into the field.
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