Modified Wheat Strain Isolated Occurance

The company that developed a genetically modified test strain of wheat that emerged to the surprise of an Oregon farmer says it has tested the parent wheat stock and found it clean.

Representatives for Monsanto Co. say the emergence of the genetically modified strain was an isolated occurrence and most likely resulted from an accident or deliberate mixing of seeds.

Monsanto chief technology officer Robb Fraley says the company has a test it has shared with other countries that could “fingerprint” the exact variety of wheat that carried the gene.

The wheat emerged in an Eastern Oregon field in early May and was resistant to the herbicide Roundup. Oregon State University researchers found the wheat had a genetic modification Monsanto used in field testing.