In 2003, Bioceres began a collaboration with the University of Litoral and the National Research Council to enhance the drought tolerance of key crops by the incorporation of new biotechnology discoveries, with particular focus on wheat, a crop abandon by biotechnology. This initiative was based on the research conducted by Dr. Raquel Chan on the genetic control of stress in plants and the discovery of the sunflower HaHB4 transcription factor.

The expression of the HaHB4 gene in the model plant Arabidopsis resulted in a phenotype highly tolerant to drought. To address the deployment of this novel technology to commercial crops a series of regulatory validation steps were followed, including the full characterization of the GM crops and the final products obtained in field trials. During this process several notable scientific publications and patent families were published. After validating the results in wheat and soybean, Bioceres and its partners further developed the drought tolerance technology under the HB4® commercial brand.

In pursuing the global deployment of HB4® crops, initial efforts were directed towards obtaining regulatory approvals in countries that both produce and consume wheat and soybean. Wheat has been deregulated in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay for consumption and production, and it has been approved in other countries for consumption, including important markets such as United States, Australia and Indonesia.

In Argentina Bioceres has been commercializing the HB4® wheat technology in a first-to-market strategy, combining the HB4® varieties with biological seed treatments and digital components. By strategic alliances with breeding companies Bioceres is combining this novel drought tolerance trait with market-leading wheat germplasms to create unmatched varieties for the future seed markets. The out-license of the technology to seed companies will deliver the drought tolerance benefits to growers around the world.