A locust on a wheat ear – illustrative image.
Scientists in the United States have engineered novel wheat varieties capable of generating their own fertilizers. This groundbreaking discovery promises to significantly reduce global air and water pollution, while simultaneously lowering cultivation costs for farmers.
According to researchers at the University of California, Davis, a substantial portion of the world`s nitrogen fertilizers – approximately 18% – is currently used for wheat production. However, wheat plants typically absorb only 30-50% of this nitrogen, with the remaining amount leaching into water bodies and dissipating into the atmosphere, causing considerable environmental damage.
The innovation involves genetically modifying wheat plants to produce an excess of specific chemical compounds. When these compounds interact with the soil, they trigger a reaction that leads to the formation of natural fertilizers. This approach offers a sustainable alternative to conventional nitrogen fertilizers, mitigating their detrimental ecological impact.
Eduardo Blumwald, a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis, emphasized the far-reaching implications of this advancement. He noted that this discovery could play a pivotal role in strengthening global food security, particularly by enhancing agricultural productivity for small-scale farms in Africa.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth