UK Approves GM Wheat Trial Extension

The UK Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has approved the request for extension of the genetically modified (GM) wheat trial to include additional autumn-sown cadenza wheat. The said trial is being supervised by the Rothamstead Research. The independent Advisory Committee of Releases to the Environment (ACRE) concluded that the trial will have no adverse effect on human health or the environment. DEFRA has set precautionary conditions to ensure that no GM material will enter the food chain.

In 2011 DEFRA authorized Rothamsted Research to plant its GM aphid-resistant wheat in spring 2012 and 2013. Extending the trial will enable further data to be obtained on the performance of the GM wheat later in the year, under different weather conditions and against different aphid populations.