South America, particularly the Southern Cone region, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, serves as a global hub for soybean production, accounting for more than 56% of global supply. However, this region experiences recurrent and severe drought risks driven by climate variability associated with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), resulting in significant economic losses. Consequently, biotechnology- based drought-tolerant soybean breeding has emerged as a critical national strategy across these countries. Argentina has positioned itself as a primary technology originator with the development of the HB4 soybean, the world’s first commercial drought-tolerant trait, utilizing the sunflower-derived transcription factor HaHB4. Brazil is advancing beyond single-trait approaches by developing multistacked biotech varieties that integrate drought tolerance with herbicide resistance, insect resistance, and oxidative stress mitigation. Furthermore, Paraguay and Uruguay are rapidly emerging as international hubs for field testing and commercialization, supported by streamlined regulatory frameworks and a “dual-track” strategy for both genetically modified (GM) and genome-edited (GE) crops. This review integrates molecular strategies, national regulatory systems, and commercialization trends in South America and discusses strategic implications for Korea. Despite Korea’s limited domestic experience in large-scale commercial cultivation owing to regulatory constraints, it possesses internationally competitive expertise in transcription factor engineering, CRISPR-based precision breeding, and AI-driven stress phenotyping. We propose a strategic technology export model that leverages Korea’s advanced R&D capabilities as a “technology provider” and “joint developer,” in partnership with South American countries. Such collaborations can foster a climate-resilient agricultural ecosystem and secure Korea’s position in the global biotech seed market.

Global climate change has intensified droughts and other extreme weather conditions, leading to serious declines in agricultural productivity. Genetically modified (GM) soybeans with drought tolerance have been developed to enhance crop resilience. Prior to commercialization, GM crops must undergo compositional equivalence assessments to confirm that no unintended compositional differences exist compared to their non-GM counterparts. In this study, we evaluated the nutritional and compositional equivalence of two drought-tolerant GM soybean lines (DIAT7 and DIAT15) compared to their non-GM parental line (Williams 82) and three reference cultivars (Kwangan, U13625, and U14511). Soybeans were cultivated under identical field conditions, and proximate components, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and antinutritional factors were analyzed using standard methods. Although several analytes exhibited statistically significant differences (p<0.05), all compositional values for DIAT7 and DIAT15 were within the natural variation ranges of the reference cultivated with GM, OECD (2012), and the AFSI Crop Composition Database (v10.1). The GM lines showed protein (36-37%), lipid (19-21%), and total dietary fiber (24-27%) contents similar to those of the reference cultivars. Amino acid profiles were dominated by glutamic acid and aspartic acid, whereas linoleic acid (42-51%) and oleic acid (29-36%) were the major fatty acids, consistent with conventional soybeans. The levels of minerals and antinutrients, including raffinose, stachyose, and phytic acid, were also comparable to the reference ranges. These findings demonstrate that the drought-tolerant GM soybeans DIAT7 and DIAT15 are compositionally and nutritionally equivalent to non-GM soybeans, supporting their substantial equivalence and providing a scientific basis for food and environmental safety evaluation.

In 2018, a new potato variety, ‘Arirang-2’, was released by the Highland Agriculture Research Institute in Pyeongchang, Korea. To create new varieties with better tuber formation at high temperature under long day, a cross was performed between high-temperature tolerant ‘Eigenheimer’ and drought tolerant ‘Daegwan 1-116’ in 2011. The shoot (57.9 cm) of ‘Arirang-2’ was taller than ‘Superior’ and ‘Sante’, and its tuber skin and flesh were red and light-yellow colored, respectively. Average number of tubers per plant of ‘Arirang-2’ was 9.1 while ‘Superior’ and ‘Sante’ had 5.4 and 14.1 tubers, respectively. Average weight of tuber of ‘Arirang-2’ was 98.1 g, which was slightly heavier than that of ‘Superior’ (90.0 g), and much heavier than that of ‘Sante’ (38.9 g). Total weight of tuber per plant of ‘Arirang-2’ was 892 g, which was remarkably higher than that of ‘Superior’ (486 g) and ‘Sante’ (549 g). Total yield (TY) of ‘Arirang-2’ measured in Gangwon-Do, Korea was around 5,022 kg/10a while that of ‘Superior’ was 3,036 kg/10a. In Kazahstan, total yield of ‘Arirang-2’ was 4,657 kg/10a and that of ‘Sante’ was 4,155 kg/10a. Marketable tuber yield (MTY) of ‘Arirang-2’ was 3,119 kg/10a in Gangwon-Do, Korea while that of ‘Superior’ was only 2,147 kg/10a. In Kazahstan, MTY of ‘Arirang-2’ was 3,162 kg/10a, which was 60% higher than that of ‘Sante’ (1,974 kg/10a). ‘Arirang-2’ is resistant to early blight (Alternaria solani) and late blight (Phytophthora infestans) compared to ‘Superior’ and ‘Sante’, and it shows tolerance to drought or high temperature. ‘Arirang-2’ was approved as a new potato cultivar by The Korea Seed and Varieties Service on March 3, 2021 (Registration No. 8444).

Abstract‘Daegwang’ was developed in a potato breeding program at the Highland Agriculture Research Institute, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration, South Korea. It was selected from the hybrid ‘Haryeong’בP03404-1’ from 2007. In 2011-2012, the major agronomic characteristics of this variety were evaluated in Gangneung for spring cultivation and Pyeongchang for summer cultivation as clone number ‘P07917-4’. ‘P07917-4’ was renamed as ‘Daegwan 1-127’, and regional yield trials for this clone were conducted in Cheongju, Naju, Gangneung, and Pyeongchang in 2013-2015. This cultivar was registered as ‘Daegwang’, based on its key agronomic characteristics, including drought tolerance, late blight resistant, and high yield. It has medium maturity and a semi-erect growth habit. ‘Daegwang’ has a round to short oval tuber shape, shallow eye-depth, yellow skin color, and white flesh color. Its leaf color is green, and its white flowers bloom abundantly. This cultivar is resistant to potato late blight but susceptible to potato common scab. The incidences of hollow heart and internal brown spot were low. However, the frequency of tuber cracking was high, at about 6.0% in summer cultivation in Pyeongchang. In the regional yield trials, ‘Daegwang’ had an average tuber yield of 34.1 ton/ha, which was 6.2% higher than that of ‘Sumi’, and its dry matter content was 16.8%. Boiled ‘Daegwang’ tubers have a viscous-floury texture and a pleasant taste. ‘Daegwang’ is expected to be produced as a table potato. (Registration No. 7664).

The soybean cultivar ‘Gangpoong’ was developed for soy-paste and tofu. Suwon 223 and SS 00419 were crossed in 1999 and their progenies were selected from F₃ to F₅ using the pedigree method. Preliminary yield (PYT) and advanced yield (AYT) trials were conducted from 2008 to 2010, and regional yield trials (RYT) were conducted at three locations from 2011 to 2013. In RYT, ‘Gangpoong’ was stable in variable environments. ‘Gangpoong’ was determinate, with white flowers, yellow elongated spherical seeds, and a light brown hilum. The flowering and maturity dates were July 27 and October 8, respectively. The plant height was 67 cm shorter than that of ‘Daewonkong’ (81 cm, standard cultivar). ‘Gangpoong’ had fewer node numbers (16) than that of ‘Daewonkong (18) and had a heaver seed weight (30.1 g/100-seed weight) than that of ‘Daewonkong (26.0 g/100-seed weight)’. ‘Gangpoong’ showed lodging tolerance. The tofu yield of ‘Gangpoong’ was 213%, and the physical characteristics of tofu were similar to those of ‘Daewonkong (208%, standard cultivar)’. The soybean malt scent and fermented soybean yield of ‘Gangpoong’ were 2 and 105%, respectively. The yield in adaptable regions was 3.4 MT/ha, which was 14% higher than that of ‘Daewonkong’. Therefore, ‘Gangpoong’ could be cultivated and used widely for soy-paste and tofu in the near future (Registration number: 5932).

Drought stress during the seedling stage has a disastrous effect on the growth of maize. The purpose of this study was to assess the developed expression markers that are related to drought stress in maize. For the selection of expressed genes by drought stress, co-expression analysis was carried out using published microarray data of drought stress in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings. Six consensus modules were based on 4,770 stress responsive genes differentially expressed in drought stress, and the royal blue module was chosen. Thirty genes were selected according to different expression patterns between susceptible and tolerant types. Drought stress treatments were performed on both Ki3 and Ki11. Ki3 and Ki11 are widely known drought-susceptible and -tolerant types, respectively. At first, the 30 selected genes were compared to Ki3 and Ki11 using qRT-PCR. The gene expression values of eight genes (BU050895, BF728598, CK827168, CO524848, AF457983, CF037152, AJ606944, and BG836522) were significantly tolerant types rather than susceptible types in the roots. After applying the eight above-mentioned genes to nine cultivars, a different pattern was detected between susceptible and tolerant types. The results of the present study will show the possibility of developing novel expression markers and the application for various maize varieties.

In this study, we compared disease incidence rate and phyllosphere microbial community between drought resistance transgenic rice (Agb0103) and non-transgenic Ilmi (NGM) during 2011-2014 to examine an environmental risk assessment of drought resistance transgenic rice (Agb0103). As the results, major diseases such as sheath blight, brown spot, leaf blast and false smut were occurred, however, there were no significant disease incidence rate between Agb0103 and NGM. As the results of counting bacterial and fungal viable cell, the colonies were increased or decreased which affected by environmental conditions, however there were no differences between Agb0103 and NGM. Also unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averaging (UPGMA) analysis based on polymerase chain reaction with denaturing gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) revealed that DGGE band pattern of bacterial and fungal communities were clustered by each month and there were no differences between Agb0103 and NGM. Furthermore, isolated casual agents causing sheath blight and brown spot were collected from Agb0103 and NGM, and they revealed that each of pathogens were no differences in morphology and pathogenicity. Therefore, our results suggested that Agb0103 showed no differences in disease incidence rate, characteristic of pathogens and phyllosphere community with NGM. In this way, it can be assumed that transgenic rice Agb0103 could not influence phyllosphere microorganism community and environmental conditions.

Genetically modified (GM) crops have been developed worldwide through the recombinant DNA technology and commercialized by various agricultural biotechnology companies. Commercialization of GM crops will be required the assessment of risk associated with the release of GM crops. The purpose of this research is a molecular characterization of introduced T-DNA in transgenic rice T4~T6 generation lines harboring a pepper MsrB2 gene under the control of stress inducible Rab21 promoter, as a part of biosafety evaluation for drought-tolerant transgenic rice (Agb0103). We identified the structure and sequence of transformation vector of T-DNA and analyzed insertion sites, flanking sequences, and generational stability of inserted T-DNA in transgenic rice lines. The transformation vector was consisted of right border, a drought-tolerant CaMsrB2 gene unit (Rab21 promoter:CaMsrB2:PinII terminator), a selectable marker herbicide resistance unit (CaMV 35S promoter:bar:Nos terminator), and left border in sequential order. Based on the adaptor-ligation PCR and whole genome sequence database, we confirmed that T-DNA was introduced 2 copies (head to head type) at the position of 2,471,957∼ 2,472,049 bp of chromosome No. 8. From the generational stability study, T-DNAs were stably inherited through the T4 to T6 generations, and also stable expression of bar gene from T-DNA was confirmed. It was also confirmed that the backbone DNA of transformation vector containing antibacterial gene was not present in Agb0103 rice genome. These results will be filed to biosafety assessment document of Agb0103.

Water use efficiency (WUE) is considered as an important characteristics of drought tolerance in crop plant. This study was carried out for determination of WUE of 29 Korean soybean cultivars including PI416937, a representative drought tolerant cultivar in USA, under two different soil water contents, the sustaining 50% of maximum field capacity on control and 25% on drought treatment for 14 days at the late of vegetative growth stage. The WUE of whole plant (g/L) was determined using the measurement of the amount of water use (mL/day/plant), dry weight (g/plant), and relative growth rate (RGR) at 14 days after treatment (DAT). The mean amount of water use of 30 soybeans was 183 and 64 mL/plant/day at control and treatment, respectively, which was decreased 63% of water use under 25% of maximum field capacity. The mean dry weight of 30 soybeans of treatment was decreased 37% compared with that of control. The amount of water use of 30 soybeans was highly correlated with dry weight at 14 DAT, while it was weak correlated with RGR of treatment and not correlated with WUE. The WUE was highly correlated with RGR at control and treatment. The mean WUE of 30 soybean was 2.1 and 2.9g/L at control and treatment, respectively. It means that WUE is increased under drought condition and is the variable characteristics depend on soil water content. The WUE of PI416937 was 3.5g/L at treatment. This study suggested WUEs of 29 Korean soybean cultivars and that the higher WUE Korean cultivars than PI416937 were 3 cultivars, Daepoong (3.8g/L), Danbeak (4.0g/L), and Keumkang (3.8g/L).

This study was carried out to develop of macro-protocol and the biosafety guide for drought-tolerant transgenic rice (Agb0103) at large scale GMO field, a total of 4,700 m². In GMO quarantine area of Kyungpook National University, insect species diversities and population densities on Agb0103 and wild type (Ilmi) were investigated. There was no difference between the population densities of insect pests and natural enemies on two varieties, while sometimes insect pest density on Ilmi was slightly higher than on Agb0103, but natural enemy density on Agb0103 was a little higher. These results provided the insect diversity for risk assessment analysis of Agb0103 and suggested that the macro-protocol could be useful to detect GM plants.