Chile Gives Green Light to Gene-edited High-fiber Wheat

The Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) of Chile released a resolution on July 25, 2025, indicating that the high-fiber wheat lines developed by Neocrop Technologies using CRISPR gene editing are not considered genetically modified organisms because of the absence of a new combination of genetic material. Thus, the CRISPR-edited wheat lines are not required to go through the national regulations implemented for GMOs.

The high-fiber wheat is a product of the Neotrait Engine® platform, which combines gene editing, proprietary gene discovery software, and speed-breeding. The elite wheat lines used for breeding were contributed by Campex Baer and Buck Semillas, two leading seed companies in Chile. The project was initially funded by the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID) and the Foundation for Agrarian Innovation (FIA) from the State of Chile.

Chile and Argentina face the nutritional challenge of low average dietary intake, which is less than 50 percent of the recommended amount (25 grams per day) indicated in the official health guidelines. With gene-edited wheat containing 5 to 10 times more fiber, production of white flours with improved nutritional benefits will contribute toward addressing the fiber intake gap through common foods like bread and other derivatives of white wheat flour.

Read more from Neocrop Technologies.