K A S H R U T . C O M_©

October 14, 2019 from the IFT:

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light to ultra-low gossypol cottonseed, ULGCS, to be utilized as human food and in animal feed. Keerti Rathore, a plant biotechnologist at Texas A&M University, and his team have developed, tested, and obtained deregulation for the transgenic cotton plant—TAM66274."

"TAM66274 is a unique cotton plant with ultra-low gossypol levels in the seed, which makes the protein from the seeds safe to consume, Rathore said, but also maintains normal plant-protecting gossypol levels in the rest of the plant, making it ideal for the traditional cotton farmer."

"Until now, the ability to utilize protein-rich cottonseed for food or even as feed for the non-ruminants was not possible because of the presence of a toxic terpenoid, gossypol. Gossypol in the leaves and stalks of the cotton plant serve as a pest deterrent, but its presence in the seed serves no purpose. With the development and approval of the ULGCS, gossypol is no longer a deterrent. "

"Until now, the ability to utilize protein-rich cottonseed for food or even as feed for the non-ruminants was not possible because of the presence of a toxic terpenoid, gossypol. Gossypol in the leaves and stalks of the cotton plant serve as a pest deterrent, but its presence in the seed serves no purpose. With the development and approval of the ULGCS, gossypol is no longer a deterrent. "

"When used in animal food, the appropriate name for dehulled cottonseed derived from TAM66274 cotton is 'low gossypol dehulled cottonseed,' and the appropriate name for dehulled cottonseed meal derived from TAM66274 cotton is 'low gossypol dehulled cottonseed meal.'"

"The next step is to get cotton farmers and the industry around the world to begin growing and marketing the special variety."

"The next step is to get cotton farmers and the industry around the world to begin growing and marketing the special variety."