Research and analysis

Qualifying higher plant notification (reference: 25/Q01)

Published 20 February 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/qualifying-higher-plant-notification-reference-25q01/qualifying-higher-plant-notification-reference-25q01

Information to be provided to the Secretary of State alongside a notice of intention to release a qualifying higher plant under schedule 3A of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2022.

1. The title of the project

Tomatoes optimized for indoor growth.

2. The aim of the project (including any matters being investigated as part of the project)

The aim of the project is to trial climate controlled environment optimized tomatoes developed using precision breeding.

3. The full name of the qualifying higher plant to be released under the project

(a) family name: Solanaceae

(b) genus: Solanum

(c) species: S. lycopersicum

(d) subspecies                        

4. The expected date on which the project will start

1 May 2025

5. The expected duration of the project

12 months.

6. Confirmation of appropriate measures

Confirmation that the person with overall responsibility for the project will put in place appropriate measures[footnote 1], as necessary, to minimise the possibility of material from the qualifying higher plant being placed on the market, for example by cross-fertilizing sexually compatible commercial crops.

I confirm that appropriate measures will be put in place. The qualifying higher plants will be grown in controlled environments and glasshouses, minimizing this possibility. Tomatoes are not cultivated commercially outdoors in the UK.

7. Confirmation that project meets the criteria set out in ACRE guidance

Confirmation that the person with overall responsibility for the project has read the ACRE guidance on genetic technologies that result in ‘qualifying higher plants’  and has assessed that the higher plants covered by this notification meet these criteria.

I confirm that I have read the guidance. I confirm that the S. lycopersicum lines to be grown in this experiment meet the criteria described in that document.

  1. Notifiers may wish to refer to published ACRE advice concerning measures for the minimisation of cross-pollination from UK GMO crop trials authorised under retained EU legislation ↩

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