CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has opened a public comment period on an application to permit the sale and use of food derived from a pair of genetically modified (GM) wheat lines developed by the University of Melbourne.

GM wheat lines containing an event called UM-12115T-1 have been modified to contain a gene from rice, which results in higher levels of nicotianamine, FSANZ said. Nicotianamine is a naturally occurring compound that helps plants absorb and distribute minerals such as iron and zinc.

The GM wheat is intended primarily for use as animal feed, although if approved it also may enter the human food supply through food processing and grain supply chains, FSANZ said.

The University of Melbourne also is seeking approval for commercial cultivation of these wheat lines in Australia through a separate assessment by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.

The GM wheat had been previously grown in field trials in Australia. The university said a primary reason for seeking regulatory approval at this stage is the need to cultivate UM-12115T-1 over substantially larger areas to support research, market development and pre-commercial validation activities.

“Expanded cultivation is required to generate the grain volumes necessary to undertake efficacy, operational and value-chain studies at commercially meaningful scale, including larger animal feeding trials and broader assessment of the line’s agronomic, nutritional and market potential,” the university said.

FSANZ said its safety assessment focused on human food safety and nutrition and found no public health or safety concerns with food derived from GM wheat lines containing event UM-12115T-1. 

“It is as safe as food from conventional wheat varieties,” the agency said.

FSANZ said it will consider all feedback received through the submission process by Dec. 1 before deciding on whether to approve the application.

John Reidy is senior digital media editor for World Grain, covering the grain, flour and feed industries. He spent 25 years in newspapers as a reporter and editor and has been an editor in the grain industry since 2019. He joined Sosland Publishing Company in 2021. He is a graduate of Creighton University with a degree in journalism. Connect with John Reidy on LinkedIn or via email.