Licence details
The University of Melbourne
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Composition – food (human nutrition), Enhanced yield, Selectable marker – antibiotic, Selectable marker – herbicide
This licence allows the University of Melbourne to grow their GM wheat in carefully controlled field sites to see how well it grows. The introduced genes have roles in increasing iron uptake and storage, and improving iron bioavailability when grain is consumed. The overall goal is to produce GM wheat with high iron levels in its grain. The wheat can be grown at two sites in the first year (no more than 4ha in total) and at up to 10 sites each in the four years after that (no more than 20 ha per year). The field sites can be in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. The GM wheat grown in the field trial will not be used in human food or animal feed.
The wheat has been modified to increase how much iron is stored in the seeds in order to make it more nutritious. The trial is to assess the performance of the GM wheat under field conditions. The licence has conditions to keep the seeds and pollen in the trial site, and that there will be no GM wheat left at any site by the end of the trial.
The risk analysis for this application was carried out in accordance with the Regulator’s Risk Analysis Framework.
Please see our factsheet for more information on GM wheat trials in Australia.
You can find out more about wheat and how it is farmed in Australia in our biology document.
Documents
Outlines the Regulator’s decision to issue a licence following the assessment of this application.
FAQs on the licence application and the Regulator’s decision to issue a licence for this application.
A summary of the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan prepared as part of the assessment of this application. It provides a brief description of the licence application, the risk assessment and risk management plan.
The final risk assessment and management plan prepared to support the Regulator's decision. It describes the GMO(s) and proposed work with the GMO(s) and provides an assessment of potential risks posed by the GMO(s). It also includes a summary of submissions received during the public consultation process.
Sets out the licence conditions imposed by the Regulator, including the licence holder’s general and specific obligations and reporting requirements.