Biotech Updates

Australian OGTR Approves Field Trial of GM Wheat and Barley

July 19, 2017

Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has issued a license to the University of Adelaide for the limited and controlled release (field trial) of wheat and barley genetically modified (GM) for abiotic stress tolerance and yield enhancement.

The field trial (License Application DIR 152) is authorized to take place at up to five sites, with up to 3.75 hectares per growing season (across all sites) in South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales, between July 2017 and January 2021. It will assess the agronomic characteristics of the GM wheat and barley under field conditions. The GM wheat and barley would not be used for commercial human food or animal feed.

The final Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) concludes that this limited and controlled release poses negligible risks to people and the environment and does not require specific risk treatment measures.

The finalized RARMP, together with a summary of the RARMP, a set of Questions and Answers on this decision and a copy of the license, are available online from the DIR 152 page in the OGTR website.