Monsanto makes ‘good progress’ developing first biotech wheat

Monsanto Co, the world’s largest seed company, said it is making good progress on the development of a herbicide-tolerant wheat, pushing what would be the world’s first biotech wheat a step closer to market.

Monsanto, a leading developer of biotech corn, soybeans and other crops, has long tried to bring to market a genetically altered wheat that tolerates spraying of glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide.

“The grain industry and the wheat industry ... have remained very interested and supportive of biotech advances,” said Monsanto chief technology officer Robb Fraley. “A wheat farmer is also generally a corn and soybean farmer and they understand the benefits of the technology.”