Politics

Japan Buys Almost 90,000 Metric Tons of Western-White Wheat From the US

Government had banned purchases after finding an an approved genetically modified variety from Oregon

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Japan bought 89,579 metric tons of western-white wheat from the U.S. today, the first purchase since the government banned the grain on May 30 after the discovery of an unapproved gene-altered variety in Oregon.

The government resumed purchases after it established a system to detect the genetically modified strain before shipment, said Sunao Orihara, director for grain trade and operation at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The health ministry will also test U.S. cargoes upon arrival to confirm supplies aren't tainted, he said. The gene-altered wheat by Monsanto Co. (MON) was found on a farm in Oregon.

H/T Adam Simpson