7. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) proposes to release 16 wheat lines (derived from 15 independent transformation events) which have been genetically modified (GM) for altered grain composition into the environment under limited and controlled conditions.

8. The dealings involved in the proposed intentional release would include:

  • propagating, growing, raising or culturing the GMOs
  • conducting experiments with the GMOs
  • using the GMOs in the course of manufacture of a thing that is not the GMOs
  • transporting the GMOs
  • disposing of the GMOs.
The dealings would also include the possession, supply or use of the GMOs for the purposes of, or in the course of, a dealing mentioned above. Those dealings are detailed further throughout the remainder of the current Chapter.

9. Some details of the application, including the identity of three genes targeted by gene silencing constructs, the specific phenotypes observed in these lines, and some testing methods, have been declared Confidential Commercial Information (CCI) under section 185 of the Act. This information was considered during the preparation of the RARMP and was made available to the prescribed expert groups and authorities that were consulted on this application.

3.1 The proposed activities

10. The applicant has stated that there are three specific objectives for the proposed trial:
  • to assess whether phenotypes of the GM wheat lines observed in glasshouse-grown material also occur in field-grown material
  • to produce sufficient grain to conduct experiments to determine how dough rheological parameters and end product quality are altered in the GM wheat lines
  • to conduct rat and pig nutritional trials with some of the GM wheat lines to determine whether nutritional quality of the grain is altered.
To carry out these aims seed would be collected and retained for analysis and possible future trials, subject to further approval(s). The GM wheat would not be used for human food or animal feed, with the exception of the animal nutritional trials. No material from the animal nutritional trials would enter the commercial human food or animal feed supply chain.

11. The GM wheat plants would be grown between July 2009 and June 2012, over three growing seasons. Grain harvested from the first growing season will be used for characterisation of the GM lines, in particular to determine how field performance compares to previously observed performance of glasshouse-grown lines. If sufficient grain is harvested, selected lines may progress to rat nutritional studies. Selected lines will be grown in the second and third growing seasons, based upon their performance in the first season. Grain harvested from the second and third growing seasons will be used for rat and pig nutritional experiments.

12. The proposed trial site will be used for multiple trials of GM wheat and/or barley simultaneously (subject to approval by the Regulator). Two applications currently under assessment, DIR 093 and DIR 094, and potentially other trials yet to be applied for are proposed to be conducted within the one trial site. The applicant has proposed specific control measures to separate the trials and to minimise mixing between trials across growing seasons.

3.2 The proposed limits of the dealings (size, location and duration)

13. The release is proposed to take place at one site on CSIRO-controlled land in the ACT, on a total maximum area of 1 ha between July 2009 and June 2012.

14. Only trained and authorised staff will be permitted access to the proposed location.

3.3 The proposed controls to restrict the dissemination and persistence of the GMOs and their genetic material in the environment

15. The applicant has proposed a number of controls to restrict the dissemination and persistence of the GM wheat lines and the introduced genetic material in the environment (see Figure 2) including:
  • locating the trial site approximately 1 km away from natural waterways
  • restricting animal access by surrounding the trial with a fence, mouse trapping and baiting around the perimeter of the fence, and covering the GMOs with bird-netting
  • locating the trial site at least 200 m away from all other wheat plantings, with the exception of other GM trials, and at least 500 m away from plantings of wheat breeding lines
Figure 2. Schematic diagram of some of the proposed containment measures.

Figure 2. Schematic diagram of some of the proposed containment measures.
  • minimising gene flow by surrounding the GM wheat with a 2 m wide buffer of non-GM wheat and preventing related species in the area immediately surrounding the trial from flowering at the same time as the GMOs
  • promoting the germination of any residual seed following harvest through three monthly cycles of irrigation and destroying any volunteer wheat with herbicide
  • post harvest monitoring of the site for 24 months or until the site has been clear of volunteers for one growing season and destroying any volunteer wheat identified during this period
  • destroying all plant materials from the trial site not required for testing or future trials
  • transporting and storing the GMOs in accordance with the Regulator’s guidelines
  • not allowing the GM plant material or products to be used for human food or animal feed, with the exception of the above mentioned rat and pig nutritional experiments, from which no material will enter the commercial human food or animal feed supply.
16. These controls, and the limits outlined in Chapter 1, Section 3.2, have been taken into account in establishing the risk assessment context (this chapter), and their suitability for containing the proposed release is evaluated in Chapter 3, Section 4.1.1.