Episode Details

Agriculture companies are using new methods to change the genes of plants to produce more productive crops.

农业公司正在使用新方法改变植物的基因，以生产出更高产的作物。

The process of gene-editing is gaining attention from people interested in agriculture. It makes changes to the existing genes of a plant, such as wheat. That is different from genetic modification, which produces what are known as genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. That process introduces completely new DNA to a plant’s genetic information.

基因编辑过程正在引起对农业感兴趣的人的关注。它对植物现有基因进行改变，例如小麦。这与基因改造不同，基因改造会产生所谓的转基因生物（GMOs）。基因改造是将全新的DNA引入植物的基因信息中。

Regulators and scientists believe gene-editing is less risky than genetic modification. They say it is closer to traditional methods of plant breeding. The process permits scientists to target several genes for editing.

监管机构和科学家认为基因编辑比基因改造风险更小。他们表示，基因编辑更接近传统的植物育种方法。这个过程允许科学家针对多个基因进行编辑。

A state-run company in Australia is preparing for a major trial of gene-edited wheat. Australian seed breeder InterGrain recently imported thousands of wheat seeds created by the American agricultural technology company Inari.

澳大利亚的一家国营公司正在准备一项基因编辑小麦的重大试验。澳大利亚种子育种公司InterGrain最近从美国农业技术公司Inari进口了数千粒小麦种子。

InterGrain chief Tress Walmsely said the wheat imports included hundreds of new genetic variations. Walmsley said the seeds are growing in a testing greenhouse in the state of Queensland. The plan is to create more seeds which can be planted across Australia in 2025.

InterGrain的主管Tress Walmsely表示，这些进口的小麦包含数百种新的基因变异。Walmsley说，这些种子正在昆士兰州的一个测试温室中生长。计划是到2025年生产出更多可以在澳大利亚各地种植的种子。

"Our job is to work out which gene combination gives the best results. Our goal is at least 10 percent yield improvement. These seeds have the potential to achieve that," she said.

“我们的工作是找出哪种基因组合能带来最佳结果。我们的目标是至少提高10%的产