Although GM techniques may develop some traits, most will stem from conventional breeding backed by sophisticated biotech tools. Biotech to aid conventional wheat breeding is already attracting 10 to 20 times more effort than the genetic transformation of the crop, says US-based Tom Crosbie, Monsanto's global head of plant breeding.
Genetic transformation is just one particular wrench in the biotechnology tool box.
Unlike some crops, most of the genetic material needed to create better wheats is already available in existing varieties and close wild relatives. The trick is to move desired traits into new varieties more rapidly and more accurately. That is where biotech helps. Genetic transformation can only be used to introduce one segment of novel genetic material to avariety at a time, but biotech tools can be used to enhance a host of existing traits. It's a numbers game and ultimately non-transformation biotech offers the greatest potential.