Modifying plants’ genes to yield larger fruits and
vegetables or tweaking certain genes to make them more resistant is a
controversial issue. While some say it tampers with nature and is potentially
harmful, others say it’s the only way to feed the world’s growing population.
The Israeli company Morflora claims its solution is a hybrid one, as its novel
method “vaccinates” plants and seeds against a wide variety of diseases and
introduces new traits, but without leading to genetic modifications or passing
on the new traits to future generations.
“This patent-pending method, called TraitUP, can be
implemented as part of universal commercial seed treatment procedures,” Dotan
Poleg, CEO of Morflora tells NoCamels: ”This pioneering technology enables seed
companies and breeders for the first time to quickly provide protection against
threats to crops, and at a later stage, introduce improved traits into seeds.”