Field trial for GM sorghum in Australia now approved

Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has issued license DIR 189 to The University of Queensland (UQ) for the limited and controlled release (field trial) of sorghum genetically modified (GM) for asexual seed formation.

The field trial will take place at one site with a maximum area of one hectare per season at the University of Queensland's Gatton Campus in the Lockyer Valley LGA in Queensland. The GM sorghum may be grown between September 2022 and June 2025. This field trial is to assess the performance of the GM sorghum under field conditions. The GM sorghum grown in this field trial would not be used in human food or animal feed.

The Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) and the license were finalized from input received during the consultation with the public, State and Territory governments, Australian Government agencies, the Minister for the Environment, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee, and local councils.

The finalized RARMP, 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 189 page on the OGTR website.