Field trial of gene-edited wheat in UK gets ACRE approval

The United Kingdom's Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) has approved the field trial of wheat with improved yields and stress tolerance using CHLORAD technology. The ACRE Advice to the Secretary of State under section 124 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 said that it is satisfied that all appropriate measures have been taken to avoid adverse effects on human health and the environment from the proposed release. ACRE sees no reason for the release not to proceed.

Nine gene-edited plant lines will be included in the field trials, eight of which still retain the transgenic construct that was transformed into the plants to perform gene editing. The ACRE advises that the applicant, the University of Oxford, observe the following to minimize the likelihood that GM wheat from this trial will enter the human food or animal feed chains, the applicant should:

1. Ensure that there is 20m surrounding the trial site, in which no cereals or grass species will be left to grow, other than those being trialed under separate GM releases.

2. Plant a wheat pollen barrier, of 2m width, to flower at the same time as the GM wheat as an additional precautionary measure.

3. Control Elymus repens (Couch Grass) and E. caninus (Bearded couch) using hand-weeding, other mechanical methods, or application of glyphosate herbicide, within the trial site and the surrounding 20 m, before flowering and for the duration of the trial.

4. Ensure that any GM or non-GM wheat plant material remaining in the area of release at the end of the trial is disposed of appropriately.

5. Ensure that following harvest, the area of release is lightly tilled twice (once after harvest and again in the following spring) to a depth of 5 cm to stimulate germination of any wheat plant volunteers. The release areas should be left fallow and monitored for wheat plant volunteers for 2 years following harvest.

6. Record the number of wheat plant volunteers that germinate before destroying them with hand pulling, mechanical methods (e.g. harrowing) or application of glyphosate herbicide prior to flowering.

7. Ensure that suitable measures (such as those described in the University of Oxford's application) are put in place to keep large birds out of the trial area and that the efficacy of these measures is kept under review. 

For more details, read the Advice on the ACRE website.