In a controlled environment resembling a walk-in freezer in Manhattan, Kansas, wheat plants are being genetically engineered with a sunflower gene to enhance drought resistance. Meanwhile, about 20 miles away in Junction City, researchers are creating hybrid wheat seeds designed to deliver higher and more stable yields as drought conditions increasingly affect the Plains region. These innovations could transform the future of the U.S. wheat sector, which faces challenges from changing consumer preferences and competition from lower-cost international producers.
Wheat, cultivated for over 10,000 years, has lagged behind crops like corn and soybeans in technological advancements. American farmers have gradually reduced wheat planting, often including it only in crop rotations to maintain soil health. However, hybrid wheat varieties are becoming more accessible, and genetically modified (GMO) wheat may be introduced in the U.S. within a few years. This effort reflects confidence that scientific progress will arrive in time to make wheat cultivation profitable once again.
Jon Rich, head of hybrid wheat operations at Syngenta, noted that wheat has historically not been a highly technologized crop. Resistance to GMO wheat remains strong among buyers, partly due to consumer skepticism, whereas most GMO corn and soybeans are used for animal feed.
The U.S., once the leading wheat exporter globally, lost that status in 2017. Farmers are contending with a 30-year decline in per-capita flour consumption, influenced by federal dietary guidelines introduced during the Trump administration and the growing popularity of gluten-free diets. At a recent industry meeting in Olathe, Kansas, millers and scientists expressed concern that these guidelines have further stigmatized grain-based foods. Jane DeMarchi, president of the North American Millers’ Association, lamented the need to emphasize that “bread is real food.”
The rise of corn as a dominant crop in the U.S. was fueled by early 20th-century breakthroughs in hybrid seed technology, which significantly increased yields even under stress conditions like drought. Corn yields have soared from about 25 bushels per acre in the 1930s to 186.5 bushels in 2025. Developing hybrid wheat seeds is more complex due to the smaller size and intricate genetics of wheat plants, making the process expensive for companies. However, advances in DNA sequencing have reduced breeding costs, sparking increased research and commercialization efforts.
Major seed and chemical companies such as Syngenta and Corteva are advancing hybrid wheat development in the U.S., anticipating substantial financial returns in the future. Corteva’s CEO, Chuck Magro, claims the company has “cracked the code,” with their hybrid hard red winter wheat capable of boosting yields by 20%. Corteva plans to launch this seed commercially in 2027. Syngenta, part of China’s state-owned Sinochem, has been marketing hybrid spring wheat seeds in northern Plains states since 2023, covering 12,000 to 15,000 acres in 2025. This remains a small portion of the 45 million acres planted with wheat annually in the U.S.
Both companies are also developing hybrids for soft wheat varieties used in pastries and Asian-style noodles, expected to be available in the coming years. However, the higher cost of these seeds, which can be double that of conventional ones, poses a risk if farmers are unwilling to invest.
Most U.S. corn and soybean crops already rely on genetically modified seeds that provide herbicide tolerance and pest resistance, traits that scientists hope to introduce to wheat as well. GMO technology could also enhance nutritional value and grain quality. Allan Fritz, a veteran wheat breeder at Kansas State University, emphasized that any advantage improving profitability would be welcomed by producers.
The wheat plants in the Manhattan lab have been modified with the HB4 drought-resistant trait developed by Argentina’s Bioceres Crop Solutions and bred to tolerate a specific herbicide not yet used on wheat. Although the USDA approved this grain for U.S. production in 2024, no commercial planting has occurred. Since wheat genetics vary regionally, public university researchers are testing HB4’s effectiveness in Plains wheat varieties. Field trials are expected to begin in about two years.
Commercial availability of GMO wheat seed is projected for 2030 or 2032 at the earliest, contingent on approval from major U.S. wheat buyers like Japan and Mexico. Brad Erker of the Colorado Wheat Research Foundation, a farmer-led trade group collaborating with Bioceres, highlighted that the goal is to make wheat cultivation more attractive to farmers. He noted that while GMO technology is common in crops such as corn, soybeans, sunflowers, sugar beets, and cotton, it remains absent in wheat.
