DIR 102 - Questions & Answers on Licence Decision for Limited & Controlled Release of Genetically Modified Wheat and Barley

What is this application for?

The University of Adelaide has received approval to trial, under limited and controlled conditions, up to 1161 lines of genetically modified (GM) wheat and 1179 lines of GM barley. The field trial will take place on three sites, two in the South Australian local government areas of Marion and Wakefield and one in the Western Australian local government area of Corrigin, on a maximum of 0.75 ha per season, between June 2010 and December 2015.

What is the purpose of the trial?

The purpose of the trial is to assess the growth and yield characteristics of the GM plants when grown in the field under rain-fed, drought and saline soil conditions. The GM wheat and barley will not be used for human food or animal feed, or in the production of therapeutic goods.

How have the GM wheat and barley lines been modified?

Each of the GM wheat and barley lines will contain one of thirty five genes derived from plant sources (wheat, barley, maize or thale cress) or from moss or yeast. The introduced genes encode proteins that are intended to enhance survival and yield of the plants under stress conditions such as heat, cold or salt or to improve nitrogen, phosphorus or zinc uptake and utilisation.
All of the GM wheat and barley lines also contain an antibiotic resistance selectable marker derived from a common gut bacterium. The gene was used during the initial development of the GM plants in the laboratory.

What controls have been imposed for this release?

The Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for this application concludes that the release poses negligible risks to people and the environment. However, a range of licence conditions have been imposed to limit the release to the size, locations and duration requested by the applicant as these were important considerations in the assessment process. As well as limits on the scale of the release, control measures have been imposed to restrict the spread and persistence of the GMO and the introduced genetic material. These include ensuring that the GM wheat and barley plants in the field are isolated from non-GM wheat and barley plants; that transport and storage of the GM plant materials are in accordance with the Regulator’s guidelines; and monitoring for, and destroying, any wheat and barley plants on the release site for at least two years after harvest and until no volunteers are observed for a continuous six month period.

Want more information?

A number of documents relating to this decision are available on the OGTR website ( under “What’s New”) or via Freecall 1800 181 030. These documents include the finalised RARMP, an Executive Summary, a Technical Summary and a copy of the full licence.