Australia's Gene Regulator Approves Field Trial of GM Safflower

Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has issued license DIR 211 to Miruku Australia Pty Ltd. on May 29, 2025, authorizing the limited and controlled release (field trial) of safflower genetically modified (GM) for dairy protein production and altered fatty acid composition to assess the crop's performance under field conditions.

According to the license, the GM safflower may be grown on an area of up to 1 hectare in 2025, increasing to a maximum of 20 sites of up to 5 hectares each in 2029. The maximum total planting area is 231 hectares over the 5-year trial period. The field sites may be located in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and South Australia. The Regulator states that the GM safflower grown in this field trial will not be used in commercial human food or animal feed.

The final Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) concludes that this field trial poses negligible risks to the health and safety of people and the environment. However, license conditions have been imposed to limit the release's size, location, and duration and restrict the spread and persistence of the GMOs and their genetic material in the environment.

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 211 page on the OGTR website.