Texas A&M University and Uzbekistan Partner for Next Step Toward Humanitarian Use of Ultra-low Gossypol Cotton

Texas A&M AgriLife Research marks the initial step toward the commercial adoption of food-ingredient cottonseed, reaching a major milestone in increasing the value of cotton. After decades of research, Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist Dr. Keerti Rathore has developed a cottonseed variety with ultra-low gossypol. This innovation unlocks the seed's potential as a valuable new food ingredient and feed source for poultry, swine, and fish.

The ultra-low gossypol cottonseed, TAM 66274, has been fully deregulated in the U.S. and is now ready for global adoption. According to the ISAAA GM Approval Database, TAM 66274 cotton is a genetically engineered cotton variety that expresses low levels of gossypol in the seed. Such a trait has opened the market to expand beyond the historically restricted market of dairy cows to feed poultry, swine, and aquaculture species in addition to direct use as a protein source for human consumption.

Uzbekistan has become the first country to formally partner with the Texas A&M University System to integrate this trait into its cotton crops. This collaboration will support Uzbekistan's national food security goals. This partnership is a significant step toward Rathore's goal of making cotton a dual-purpose crop—valued for both its fiber and its seed as a protein source. This development is expected to improve the sustainability of cotton farming worldwide and holds potential for U.S. cotton growers to benefit from shared genetic material in the future.

For more details, read the article in AgriLife Today.