New strain of wheat that beats the heat

NEW ‘gene-edited’ wheat crops could stave off food crises caused by drought, new research shows.

Scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich believe geneediting techniques could secure our food supply by producing ‘heat-resistant’ strains.

They have identified a key gene in wheat that can be exploited to introduce traits such as heat resilience. Gene-editing differs from genetically modified (GM) ‘Frankenfood’ because it alters the existing DNA of a plant or animal, rather than adding DNA from different species.

Last night, Ministers hailed the breakthrough, which, thanks to new Brexit freedoms, can be applied to farmland across

Britain. Under EU rules, the radical technology was banned.

Steve Double, Minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said the technology’s roll-out would help ‘cement’ Britain’s position as ‘a science superpower’.

He said: ‘We are facing the driest summer in more than 50 years.

‘There is no doubt climate change means we must adapt how we farm.’

Over the summer farmers have raised serious concerns that staple crops, including potatoes and onions, may be much smaller and more misshapen this year as the dry conditions take their toll on Britain’s farmland.