Biotech Updates

Field Trials for GM Canola and Cotton in Australia

November 25, 2011

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received license applications from Pioneer Hi-Bred Australia Pty Ltd (Pioneer) for the limited and controlled release of genetically modified (GM) canola and GM cotton into the environment (application DIR 114 and 113, respectively).

The field trial to evaluate the agronomic performance of GM canola will be take place between May 2012 and February 2016 on up to 8 sites for the first year and up to 20 sites in subsequent years, in Victoria, New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA).

The trial of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance will be for two years, between May 2012 and May 2015 in four sites in Narrabri, NSW and Wyndham-East Kimberly, WA.

Check out http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/Content/dir114-4/$FILE/dir114ebnotific_1.rtf and http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/Content/dir113-4/$FILE/dir113ebnotific.rtf for the details of the field trials.