USB farmer leaders train on benefits of gene editing

A group of soybean farmer leaders and others with the United Soybean Board Staff have completed training with the Center for Food Integrity on the benefits of gene editing in agriculture.

The CFI’s Amy te Plata Church tells Brownfield the training builds on agriculture’s foundation of science-based, proven innovation.

“It’s that spirit of continuous improvement and adoption of technology in which United Soybean Board, soybean farmers and many others across agriculture are looking to see, how can we really optimize this potential of gene editing.”

She says the first gene edited food product in the U.S. is a high-oleic, heart-healthy soy oil and more products are in the R&D pipeline.

“They’re working on soybeans that have higher protein yields so that could be beneficial for human food ingredients as well as feedstuffs for animals, aquaculture and all those others that use soy meal.”

There’s also gene editing work to eliminate allergens in many crops and foods and to better adapt crops and livestock to extreme weather conditions.

Interview with Amy te Plata Church below >