Australian OGTR authorises The University of Adelaide to conduct field trial of GM wheat and barley

Date:02-22-2022

The Regulator has issued licence DIR 186 to The University of Adelaide, authorising the limited and controlled release (field trial) of wheat and barley genetically modified (GM) for yield enhancement and improved abiotic stress tolerance.

The Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) and the licence were finalised taking into account input received during 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 Regulator thanks submitters for their contributions.

Submissions are summarised in Appendix A and Appendix B of the RARMP, together with information about how the issues raised relating to risks to human health and safety or the environment were considered in preparing and finalising the RARMP.

The finalised RARMP concludes that this field trial poses negligible risks to the health and safety of people and the environment, thus it does not require specific risk treatment measures. However, licence conditions have been imposed to limit the size, location and duration of the release and to restrict spread and persistence of the GMOs and their genetic material in the environment, as these were important considerations for the RARMP.

The finalised RARMP, a summary of the RARMP, the licence and Questions and Answers about this decision can be obtained online from the DIR 186 page of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator’s (OGTR) website or requested via the contacts detailed below. The interactive map showing the locations of field trial sites will be updated on the OGTR website once the GM wheat and barley is planted.

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
MDP 54 GPO Box 9848 CANBERRA ACT 2601   Tel: 1800 181 030   

E-mail: ogtr@health.gov.au
OGTR website