Qualifying higher plant notification (reference: 25/Q08)
Published 3 September 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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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
Improving photosynthesis capabilities in Gene-Edited Wheat 2025/10
2. The aim of the project (including any matters being investigated as part of the project)
Test the agronomic performance of up to 10 gene-edited lines, including the photosynthetic performance of wheat regarding early plant vigour, plant growth, grain yield and grain quality.
Grain produced is for research purposes only and no grain or products will be allowed to enter the food chain.
3. The full name of the qualifying higher plant to be released under the project
(a) family name: Poaceae
(b) genus: Triticum
(c) species: Triticum aestivum (bread wheat, common wheat)
(d) subspecies: not applicable
4. The expected date on which the project will start
1 October 2025 or thereafter.
5. The expected duration of the project
5 growing seasons (that is, until October 2030).
6. Confirmation of appropriate measures
Confirmation that the person with overall responsibility for the project will put in place appropriate measures, 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 to minimise this possibility. This will include pollen barriers and exclusion zones as necessary to minimise any risks associated with cross-fertilizing sexually compatible commercial crops.
7. Confirmation that the 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 Triticum aestivum lines to be grown in this experiment meet the criteria described in that document.