Australia approves Bayer CropScience's GM cotton field trial

The Australian Office of the Gene Technology Regulator(OGTR) has approved an application from Bayer CropScience to conduct field trial on genetically modified(GM)for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance.

The field trial is authorised to take place between July 2015 and July 2021 at sites in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.The maximum planting area of the field trials is 120 hectares per year in the first two years and 600 hectares per year in the following four years.

The purpose of the trial is to assess the agronomic performance and pest resistance of the GM cotton grown under Australian field conditions, to evaluate crosses between the GMOs and non-GM commercial cotton cultivars, and to produce seed for future releases, subject to further regulatory approvals.The GM cotton is not permitted to be used in human food or animal feed.