In April 1993, Pioneer discontinued its research program aimed at enhancing the nutritional content of soybeans through introduction of a gene from the Brazil nut. The goal of the research program was to create a soybean with higher levels of the nutrient, methionine, for the sole purpose of feeding poultry. Poultry diets made from soybeans must be fortified with methionine to ensure the correct nutritional balance for the animals.
Soybeans are naturally deficient in methionine.
Brazil nut protein was chosen for the research because it naturally contains high levels of methionine. Research allowed the introduction of a particular gene from Brazil nuts into soybeans that produced a particular protein that enhanced methionine content of soybeans. The program was discontinued in response to the preliminary findings of a study, funded by Pioneer, at the University of Nebraska. Those preliminary results suggested that the Brazil nut gene transferred a potential for allergenicity to the soybeans. The preliminary results suggested that the culprit was the specific Brazil nut protein that had been created in these transgenic soybeans.