U.S. regulators have given the green light with no regulatory hurdles to scientists at the Danforth Center to advance their gene-edited teff feed grain to the semi-dwarf height trait, allowing for reduced grain losses in a staple food for millions in developing countries.

A review of premarket regulatory status by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA) concluded that teff grass modified by genome editing to have a semi-dwarf stature is not subject to biotechnology regulation under the USDA SECURE rule.

The new semi-dwarf forage grass was developed by researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center's Institute for International Crop Improvement (IICI), who are collaborating with the Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research to improve teff productivity using new plant breeding techniques (NBTs). ). The reduced height of the new teff lines is expected to provide resistance to lodging (falling), resulting in yield losses of up to 25%.

Housing in teff grass, which causes plants to bend or break with wind or heavy rain, can significantly reduce the yield of harvested grains and make the plant more susceptible to diseases and pests. This can lead to reduced grain quality, such as lower protein content and higher levels of contaminants.

"I grew up on a farm in Ethiopia and I know firsthand that if we are successful, the benefits will be immense for our farmers," said IICI Senior Manager of Regulatory Science Getu Beyene Duguma, PhD. Teff is a small grain native to Ethiopia, where it is a staple food for millions of people and is estimated to provide up to two-thirds of the protein and dietary fiber consumed in the country. In addition to being a staple food for Ethiopians, teff is also an important source of income for many small farmers in the country.

Source: Agrolink