Australia: Request a field trial for (…]

In March 2023, in Australia, an application for a field trial of genetically modified ryegrass for livestock feed was withdrawn.

Australian company Grasslanz Technology withdraws its field trial application for genetically modified ryegrass for livestock feed in March 2023 [1]. This plant has been modified to have a high content of metabolizable energy. This is especially evident in the increased fat content of the leaves. [2]. It should be noted that Grasslanz Technology provided this file on behalf of AgResearch.

The experiment was to be conducted between April 2023 and December 2028, at a maximum area of ​​2.5 hectares per year, and up to 12.5 hectares in total for the entire experiment. Seven pilot sites were selected in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. Plants grown in this field experiment were not intended for use as commercial animal feed. However, the company has considered animal feeding trials.

Many organizations opposed this field experiment. Consequently, the Invasive Species Council has deemed open field deployment of this plant ” Possibly poses an unacceptable risk to the environment » [3]. GeneEthics, an association opposed to GMOs, stressed that such testing is impossible to control and will therefore lead to more weeds. This organization concluded that If approved, we expected to spray more plant protection products, which would increase their annual cost by five billion dollars » [[[[[4]. At the time, the company reported impressive agricultural performance: the genetic modification was to increase production by 40% and reduce water consumption by 30%. The company also announced these studies in the laboratory It made it possible to measure a decrease from 15 to 23% in methane production. AgResearch concluded: “ Animals fed GM ryegrass can eat less while maintaining the same weight gain This ryegrass is strange Charm “Never seen before in the fields… This new attempt seems to be on the same track. It is impossible to tell the difference between two ryegrasses developed by AgResearch. Finally, note that other organizations have already experimented with such ryegrass in Australia between 2008 [5] And in 2018 [6].