3 June 2022
J Bruning
Email
: [FYI request #19296 email]
Dear Sir/Madam
Re: Official Information Act Request (PFR Ref: 0936.2.1.05.22)
Further to your request for information under the Official Information Act 1982 regarding Plant & Food Research’s
protocols on projects employing regulated gene biotechnologies, I am able to provide you with the following
information.
1. List of projects undertaken from August 2019 – August 2021 that have received approval under the HSNO
Act sections 38-42
Appendix One includes a list of all HSNO approvals involving gene biotechnologies that were in active use
between August 2019 and August 2021. Each approval may be applied to multiple projects.
Should you require more detailed information about the individual projects undertaken, there is a substantial
amount of work that would be required to research and collate the information and we would be required to
charge for making the requested information available. Please let us know if you would like us to estimate the
cost involved in this process.
2. List of projects undertaken from August 2019 – August 2021 that have been denied approval under the
HSNO Act sections 38-42
Plant & Food Research conducts research in accordance with relevant laws and regulatory guidelines. As
such, no research was undertaken that required but did not receive approval.
I trust this reply serves to meet your request. You have the right to refer this reply to the Ombudsman.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Timewell
Communications Manager
Plant & Food Research Auckland
120 Mt Albert Road, Sandringham,
Auckland 1025
Private Bag 92169, Auckland 1142
New Zealand
Tel: +64-9-925-7000, Fax: +64-9-925-7001
Appendix One: List of HSNO approvals in active use at Plant & Food Research
Approval Number
Project
To develop genetically modified model laboratory organisms and selected crop plants to understand
ERMA200947
plant secondary metabolite pathways and their influence on plant agronomic and quality traits.
To develop genetically modified horticultural and vegetable crops to understand the factors controlling
APP201459
plant development.
To develop Arabidopsis thaliana in containment to investigate gene function and gene delivery
ERMA200706
systems, to develop new bioassays.
APP201995
To develop genetically modified organisms (microorganisms and plants) in containment to
understand environmental and genetic factors that control the accumulation of alkaloid compounds in
plant species, and the role of alkaloids in plant health and development.
To develop and utilise antibody based technology to study plant protein-protein interactions and
GM005/HRA095
identify proteins that associate with each other in planta.
Production of DNA libraries and clones in order to identify natural resistance genes from fruits which
GMO01/HRA050
are active against economically important pests and pathogens of fruit species and to develop DNA
markers for these species
Determination of plant gene function from ESTs and genomic clones, characterisation of regulatory
GMD00300
elements controlling plant gene expression and the development of new plant varieties.
To genetically modify bacterial, fungal and plant species to analyse the virulence of plant-pathogenic
APP203321
fungi.
To develop a range of genetically modified (GM) organisms (microorganisms and plants), and
pathogenicity test GM Pseudomonas species on plants in containment to understand the evolution
APP202231
and pathogenicity of Pseudomonas syringae pathovar actinidae (Psa) and plant defences against
pathogens
To import genetically modified non-pathogenic Escherichia coli, bacteriophage, and yeast strains, and
GMC04015
insect and mammalian cell lines for storage and use in research or diagnostics
To import genetically modified non-pathogenic Bacillus subtilis, Agrobacterium tumefaciens and
ERMA200935
Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) and non-replicative Sendai virus
vectors for storage and use in research and diagnostics.
To develop in containment a range of genetically modified organisms (GMO) (microorganisms and
GMD03009
plants) by introducing well-defined genes from mammals (excluding humans), insects, fungi, plants,
bacteria or viruses into plants (non-native species)
To genetically modify bacteria and plants to understand how plants and plant viruses interact during
APP201049
infection.
To analyse genes and regulatory sequences from various insects or plants to determine their
GMD7041
functions in developmental or biochemical processes such as insect growth and behaviour or in plant
development and physiology
To import into containment, for research purposes, genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae
NOC99011
laboratory strains that contain fragments of DNA cloned from other species
To develop, by genetic modification, microorganisms and plant host species to explore the function of
APP203565
plant genes which encode proteins containing domains specifically rich in glutamine (Q) and
asparagine (N) amino acids, also known as Q/N rich regions.
To investigate the genetic mechanisms involved in persistence and survival of food-borne pathogens
ERMA200073
to improve food safety
The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited
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To import genetically modified non-pathogenic Escherichia coli, bacteriophage, and yeast strains, and
GMC04015
insect and mammalian cell lines for storage and use in research or diagnostics
Determination of plant gene function from ESTs and genomic clones, characterisation of regulatory
GMO00/HRA037
elements controlling plant gene expression and the development of new plant varieties
Determination of plant gene function from EST's and genomic clones, characterisation of regulatory
GMO01/HRA053
elements controlling plant gene expression of new plant varieties. Update expands the source of
cDNA, genes and regulatory elements from the Actinidia genes
To develop plasmids and replication-defective viral vectors in order to transform low-risk yeast, insect
APP203195
and mammalian cell lines for protein production, cell-based functional assays, and in vitro models to
study plant and Hexapoda developmental and biochemical processes.
To develop genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae (bakers yeast) and Escherichia coli as a
APP201205
model system to study the function of genes. Discovery Science Pl2-1
To develop genetically modified plants and bacteria to understand the mechanistic interaction
APP201049
between plants and plant viruses
To develop genetically modified Escherichia coli, yeast and animal cell lines for cell-based assays
APP201315
and in vitro models to study the broad physiological interactions of food and food-based components
on the human body.
To better understand the biochemical change that mammalian cell undergo in the presence of a
GMD05082
variety of foods or a food component
The aim of the research is to analyse genes and regulatory sequences from various insects or plants
GMD07041
to determine their functions in developmental or biochemical processes such as insect growth and
behaviour or in plant development and physiology
To express proteins encoded by genes from invertebrates involved in pheromone production and
GMO99/HRA015
reception, insecticide resistance, host resistance and haemolymph function.
Amendment to previously approved application, GMO99/HRA019. Escherichia coli. To clone genes
GMO00/HRA027
from insects involved in pheromone production and reception, insecticide resistance and host
resistance. Additional hosts and vectors to be used.
To clone genes from insects involved in pheromone production and reception, insecticide resistance
GMO99/HRA019
and host resistance.
To clone genes from insects involved in pheromone production and reception, insecticide resistance
GMO01/HRA047
and host resistance. Update of GMO99/HRA019 and GMO00/HRA027.
To develop genetically modified non-pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and bacteriophage in
GMD08037
order to answer identification, taxonomic, population or evolutionary questions for a wide range of
genes and organisms
To examine genes involved in olfaction processes (odorant transport, reception, recognition and
GMO01/HRA051
neuronal messaging) in vertebrates to define the determinants for odorant specificity and olfaction
phenotype.
Import organisms to understand the response in plants to virus infection by studying the mechanistic
GMO04/HRA083
interplay between the gene silencing, intron splicing and/or translation pathways, in plants using
reporter genes to indicate the efficiencies of each pathway
To determine the function of plant genes and regulatory elements involved in growth, development,
ERMA200704
stress physiology, primary and secondary metabolism, symbiotic relationship, flowering, animal
nutrition, digestion and health
To gain approval in accordance with section 259 of the HSNO Act 1996 for microorganisms currently
NOC99015
held in containment and to allow further importations for reference and research purposes
The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited
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To gain approval in accordance with section 259 of the HSNO Act 1996 for the International
NOC99014
Collection of Microorganisms from Plants (ICMP) for use as reference organisms for rapid responses
in eradication.
To develop a range of genetically modified (GM) organisms (microorganisms and plants), and
pathogenicity test GM Pseudomonas species on plants in containment to understand the evolution
APP202231
and pathogenicity of Pseudomonas syringae pathovar actinidae (Psa) and plant defences against
pathogens.
GMD05100
To develop and utilise antibody based technology to study plant protein - protein interaction and
identify the proteins that associate with each other in Planta.
Construction of libraries of plant genes for subsequent sequencing and further biological analysis.
GMD01178
This is an update of GMO00/HRA036.
To gain an understanding of the molecular basis for the phenomenon of vegetative incompatibility in
GMD09001
filamentous fungi
To develop genetically modified non-pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and bacteriophage in
GMD08037
order to answer identification, taxonomic, population or evolutionary questions for a wide range of
genes and organisms.
To develop plants with modified pigment pathways to be used in research on understanding plant
GMD05022
pigment biosynthesis and accumulation and potentially to generate new varieties of crop plants with
modified colour, health or nutritional properties.
Understand the biosynthesis, regulation and function of plant pigments; flavonoids and carotenoids,
GMD01023
where new knowledge may contribute to studies of a range of plant processes in which these
compounds are key.
Understand the biosynthesis, regulation and function of plant pigments; flavonoids and carotenoids,
GMD01075
where new knowledge may contribute to studies of a range of plant processes in which these
compounds are key.
To develop genetically modified non-pathogenic bacteria with genes involved in carbohydrate
ERMA200814
degradation and transportation to identify how bacteria metabolise carbohydrate-based substrates
and how this may impact on human health.
To develop in containment Marchantia polymorpha to investigate the evolution of flavonoids and
APP202127
other secondary metabolites in land plants.
To import genetically modified Arabidopsis thaliana into containment to investigate gene function and
ERMA200792
gene delivery systems, to develop new bioassays.
To develop in containment viral vectors and non-germline modified plants that will be used to
ERMA200271
determine the function of genes associated with plant pigmentation.
To develop in containment viral vectors and non-germline modified plants that will be used to
ERMA200272
determine the function of genes associated with plant senescence.
To import into containment Escherichia coli K12 and B derivatives containing fragments of DNA that
GMC00012
have been cloned from other species.
To develop genetically modified non-pathogenic strains of E. coli and bacteriophage in order to
GMD08037
answer identification, taxonomic, population or evolutionary questions for a wide range of genes and
organisms.
To develop plants with modified patterns of senescence, specifically relating to carbohydrate
GMD05021
metabolism, senescence signalling or programmed cell death, for research on understanding and
potentially controlling deterioration in harvested produce.
The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited
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To import plant material infected with phytoplasmas to test the effectiveness of current detection
NOC04017
methods for identifying phytoplasmas in plant imports
To import into containment plant viruses and viroids capable of mechanical transmission (in an
NOC01004
'inactive' state) for disease diagnostic tests on plant quarantine and surveillance samples
To use plasmid based immortalisation factors to create continuous cell lines from various tissues from
APP203967
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Chinook salmon).
To import a genetically modified bacterium that will be used in a laboratory based bio-assay to
APP201869
determine how much carbon is immediately available for bacterial metabolism
To import genetically modified strains of Pseudomonas corrugata, Pseudomonas syringae and
GMC08008
pectolytic Erwinia to investigate the molecular basis for their pathogenicity on plants
To import into contaiment low-risk microorganisms and cell lines, vertebrate laboratory animals, and
APP201858
invertebrates for research and teaching purposes
To develop in containment bacteria with modified pathogenicity and antagonistic traits for use in
research on systemic resistance in plants as well as products with antimicrobial properties.
GMO07/CFR001
Transposon mutagenesis of Pseudomonas corrugata and Pseudomonas syringae for the
identification of genes encoding proteins involved in eliciting systemic resistance in plants as well as
products with antimicrobial properties
GMD01005
Experimental research to enhance the genetic improvement of potatoes & related species
GMD03053
Experimental research to enhance the genetic improvement of potatoes & related species
To develop in containment plants with modified carotenoid biosynthetic and accumulation patterns.
GMD09005
The plants will be used to study carotenoid formation and to potentially generate new cultivars with
modified colour, health or nutritional properties
To identify & evaluate genes that control the asexual formation of seeds in the model plant Hieracium
GMD02040
(syn. Pilosella). An update of GMO00/CFR004.
GMD00113
Apomixis in Hieracium
To improve disease resistance of peas and beans and thus minimise the requirements for
GMD00160
insecticides (to control insect vectors of viruses) & fungicides and to better understand the role of
endogenous genes in disease resistance and determinants of yield.
To use amino acid and sucrose transporter genes from peas, beans and yeast and the AAP1 (amino
GMD03051
acid permease) promoter from Arabidopsis. An update of GMO00/CFR006.
To maintain in containment and to import strains of genetically modified
E. coli and
Agrobacterium
which are used to facilitate the introduction of foreign DNA into a wide range of crop species
GMC00001
Note that ‘inactive’ HSNO approvals have been listed in various project registers, however cultures may be present in storage.
These HSNO approvals are not listed.
The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited
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