In addition to GMO corn, are there other animal fodder plants, such as grasses, which have been genetically modified to create better yields and desirable traits such as drought-resistance? In particular, I am curious as to whether panicum maximum, otherwise known as guinea grass, has been genetically modified.

Expert response from Dr. Nicholas Storer

Global Leader for Scientific Affairs, Biotechnology Regulatory and Government Affairs Group, Dow AgroSciences

Wednesday, 28/08/2013 15:07

GM versions of several forage crops have been created for research or commercial purposes. Commercial crops include corn, which you mention, and alfalfa. Research is being pursued with various grass species, such as switchgrass (although this is more with a view to its use as a biofuel, rather than animal feed), sorghum, wheat and millet. Turf grasses have also been genetically modified to provide herbicide tolerance. Molecular approaches to improvement of guinea grass, an important tropical and subtropical forage for cattle, have included genetic sequencing and marker-assisted breeding. To our knowledge, genetic engineering has not yet been undertaken.