Soon after the world learned a strain of genetically modified wheat was found in an eastern Oregon field, Japanese officials suspended a shipment of nearly 25,000 tons of soft white wheat.
The postponed shipment also raised many questions about Japan’s quick reaction and other Asian markets, by extension.
There’s no longstanding grudge against Americans for the introduction of wheat, but imports — especially rice — have triggered nationalist concerns of U.S. domination, said Anne McKnight, professor of Asian languages and culture at UCLA.
Read the full story here: Genetically modified wheat: Japan’s wariness rooted in culture, post-WWII history
Additional Resources:
- “Japan aims to restart buying U.S. western white wheat as early as Aug -sources,” Reuters
- “Mystery Lingers around Origin of GM Wheat in Oregon,” Scientific American
