Unsanctioned Genetically Modified Wheat Growing in Oregon Tied to Monsanto

Genetically modified wheat growing in Oregon and its ties to Monsanto are being investigated after a farmer found the genetically engineered grass growing in his fields. There are no genetically modified wheat varieties approved for sale or production in the United States or elsewhere.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a formal investigation into the circumstances behind the GM wheat and said it is "taking this situation very seriously."

The federal agency first caught wind of the GM wheat about a month ago after a test by Oregon State University researchers confirmed the presence of GM glyphosate-resistant wheat plants in the farmer's crop. The farmer noticed wheat growing in an area he had not intended it to grow; after spraying the grass with Roundup, it did not die.

A further analysis of the wheat found that it was the same GM glyphosate-resistant variety that biochemical firm Monsanto was authorized to field test in 16 states, including Oregon, from 1998 to 2005. The wheat was engineered to be resistant to Monsanto's own brand of industry-leading weed killer, glyphosate, also known as Roundup. Monsanto's last field test of the GM wheat in Oregon was in 2001, according NPR.  

Monsanto claims that it discontinued its commercial wheat program nine years ago, and said the news was "unexpected," but remained firm that "the presence of the Roundup Ready trait in wheat, if determined to be valid, is very limited."

"We will work with USDA to confirm their test results and as they consider appropriate next steps. We will also conduct a rigorous investigation to validate the scope of and to address any presence of a Monsanto Roundup Ready event in commercial wheat seed," the chemical company wrote on its website.  

Confirmation that genetically altered wheat was growing in Oregon, which came from the USDA Thursday, prompted Japan and South Korea to suspend U.S. wheat imports and Japan cancelled a major purchase of the crop. Japan is the largest market for U.S. wheat, according to the Washington Post.

Other importers of U.S. wheat, especially European nations, were rattled by the news. The EU consumer protection office said it was "following carefully" the developments of the GM wheat story and "ensure that European consumers are protected from any unauthorized GM presence and make sure that the EU zero tolerance for such GM events is implemented," the Associated Press reported.

European consumers have generally registered a stronger opposition to genetically modified products that their American counterparts.

In the U.S., genetically modified corn, soybeans and cotton dominate 90 percent of the U.S. market, according to the Washington Post report. By some estimates, as much as 70 percent of all processed food sold in the U.S. contains ingredients or oils from genetically engineered crops.

The modified wheat presents no danger to public health, according to the USDA. But there is still widespread public discontent. 

Wayne Bacon, president of French-based grain trader Hammersmith Marketing, told Reuters that consumers were likely to react negatively.

"We all buy things with GM products in it every day, we just don't know about it, but if suddenly we know that the loaf of bread we are buying is made from GMO wheat then it becomes a very negative thing with the consumer," he said.