A new “supergrass” developed in Melbourne, Australia, promises to revolutionize lawn maintenance, reduce dry grass fever, and enhance dairy and beef production.
This supergrass project is the brainchild of the Molecular Breeding Research Collaboration Center in Melbourne and New Zealand’s PGG Wrightson company. Approximately $20 million has been invested over the past eight years to develop these supergrass varieties.
Dr. Bryan Whan, director of the research center, stated that the project involves altering existing gene structures rather than introducing foreign elements. One of the main activities involves gene modifications that make the grass softer.
Whan explained: “This improves the digestibility of the grass for cattle and sheep, helping produce more nutritious and tender meat.” The grass also reduces bloating in livestock, which is believed to contribute to ozone layer depletion.
Additionally, researchers are modifying the same type of genes to create tougher grass for sports fields. In a third breakthrough, scientists have identified the gene responsible for hay fever allergies.
In a separate project, scientists are working on developing a grass variety that contains a lot of fungi, specifically for airports. This grass has an extremely unpleasant taste, making it unpalatable to birds.
K.NHẬT (Herald Sun)
