31 March 2022
Sorghum is the third largest crop in Australia. Now biotechnology is helping to realise its full nutrition potential.
The ancient grain sorghum is Australia’s third largest crop and a staple food for animals and more than 500 million people worldwide. However, the proteins in sorghum are not easily digested by humans or animals, making it less nutritionally and economically valuable than wheat or maize. Now biotechnology is helping to realise its full nutrition potential.
Researchers from the University of Queensland have used gene-editing to increase the protein content and digestibility of new sorghum lines. The last review of the Gene Technology Regulations has enabled the new sorghum lines to be sown in the same way as plants produced via conventional breeding. This discovery has important potential for the poultry, pig and beef feedlot industries with more protein efficient feed, thereby delivering benefits to the Australian consumer.