Friday, March 29, 2024

GM ryegrasses ready for feeding

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New glasshouses in New Zealand and United States approval for feed trials are the next steps in AgResearch’s genetically modified ryegrass trials.
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AgResearch principal scientist Dr Greg Bryan has recently returned from the US Mid West where the agency has a research site testing its high metabolisable energy (HME) ryegrass.

“The next step there for us will be to conduct animal trials, which will be dependent on getting approval of authorities there. 

“But before we can do that we need to breed up a sufficient quantity of grass, about one hectare that we can base the feed trials from,” he said.

That’s where AgResearch’s Palmerston North campus will play a key role. 

Two new high-containment glasshouses are being commissioned this month to breed a sufficient quantity of seed for the trial.

“The old glasshouses were over 30 years old. The new designs enable much more light penetration and a very high level of containment for both seed and pollen,” Bryan said.

The layers of containment in the design also mean the GM seed can be multiplied while conforming to tight Hazardous Substances and New Organisms standards on GM germplasm.

Growing a hectare of feed will require about 20kg of seed and scientists expect the process to take about eight months.

Bryan said the ryegrass has so far performed well in controlled growing conditions and plants in field trials are also performing well in competition with each other.

The ryegrass cultivar’s key purpose when developed was to offer higher energy for stock. 

Researchers have found the grass also demonstrates significantly reduced methane emissions and greater drought tolerance alongside the energy efficiency.

Scientists are reasonably confident the field trials will replicate results from controlled conditions.

“We do have to get approval from US authorities for feeding it to animals. 

“The process is strict but also quite efficient.”

The US is familiar with GM trials, with 10 plant species already marketed in the US with GM genetics, including soybeans and canola.

Researchers still have to determine what animals to try the grasses on but they are likely to be sheep or goats.

“Goats, surprisingly, are quite a good alternative to dairy cattle.”

Ultimately, the grass will require approval for trials in NZ, a tough task under HSNO regulations, but not impossible.

“There is a pathway there. 

“But we would want to see the US trial results first then decide whether to trial here and regulation would be under whatever system is in place then.”

The US trials will include measuring methane emissions from the animals alongside energy yields from the grass.

Bryan welcomes the recent discussions initiated by the Royal Society over genetic engineering regulations and the need to rework them to allow for new genetic technology. 

The long development process now matches the increased attention on greenhouse gas emissions and a need for a more sustainable pastoral sector.

Other than regulation one of the biggest barriers for NZ firms working on GE technology is establishing a route to market for proven technology.

“So we have to get to a point where we have done the animal trials and can say with complete confidence the benefits of the product are there.”

Researchers are also applying the ryegrass technology to other crops.

“A US company is already working on this technology in soy beans. Lucerne is also likely to be a good target crop for the technology, with initial testing already done on it in the lab.”

Tropical grasses also offer a lot of potential for the technology.

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