Australia’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received a licence application from Nuseed, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nufarm, to conduct field trails of genetically modified (GM) canola (Brassica napus) and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) with altered oil content and herbicide tolerance. The proposed trials are to be conducted between November 2022 and December 2027, at up to 20 trial sites per year with a maximum area of 150 hectares per year. The trial sites are located in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. In addition to the use of the pat gene to confer tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate, the introduced genes involved in biosynthesis pathways for long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are:

• Lackl-Δ12D from yeast Lachancea kluyveri
• Picpa-ω3D from yeast Pichia pastoris
• Micpu-Δ6D from microalga Micromonas pusilla
• Pyrco-Δ6E from microalga Pyramimonas cordata
• Pavsa-Δ5D from microalga Pavlova salina
• Pyrco-Δ5E from microalga Pyramimonas cordata
• Pavsa-Δ4D from microalga Pavlova salina