Egyptian Researchers Develop GM Wheat with Resistance to Salinity and Water Scarcity

Researchers at the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) have commenced the harvest of genetically modified (GM) wheat at the authority's site in Inshas City. The GM wheat has several improved characteristics such as high yielding, tolerance to saline soils, and resistance to water scarcity.
The GM wheat can produce over 4 tons per acre, which is almost 1 ton higher than the cultivated Egyptian wheat varieties. Cultivation of the GM wheat only takes 140 days. With the benefits of the GM wheat, it is projected that it can increase the country's local wheat production by 33 percent and decrease the need for imported wheat.
(Source: Crop Biotech Update, International Service for Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications. www.isaaa.org)