NEW YORK, May 16 (Reuters) - Bioceres Crop Solutions ( BIOX )

has begun sales of genetically modified (GM) wheat

seeds in Argentina, the first time the technology has been

commercially available to farmers anywhere in the world, CEO

Federico Trucco said on Wednesday.

After years of tests followed by planting under pilot

agreements between Bioceres and a small number of farmers, the

company has started distributing seeds to agricultural input

retail companies in the South American country, Trucco told

Reuters on the sidelines of the BMO Global Farm to Market

conference in New York.

"Hopefully we can have it available in Brazil as well, in

one or two seasons," Trucco said.

Genetic modification involves altering a plant's makeup by

transferring DNA from one organism to another and is common in

crops such as corn. Some consumer groups oppose genetic

modification of wheat over concerns about human health since it

is a widely used ingredient in bread and pasta.

Trucco said that with more approvals from governments and

industry groups, GM wheat is becoming more accepted.

Bioceres developed HB4 GM wheat to resist drought, a

recurring problem in Argentina in the last decade.

The company said the seed yields around 20% more crop than a

conventional seed during droughts.

"It is almost like an insurance policy," Trucco said, adding

that the product's market share in Argentina is a single-digit

percentage in its first season of sales.

He expects sales to improve once the company gains scale,

allowing Bioceres to price the seed more competitively.

Bioceres' GM wheat is approved for planting in Argentina,

Brazil and Paraguay so far. Processing and use of the grain is

approved in more countries, Trucco said, including the United

States.