Aresa's application to field test GM Arabidopsis thaliana (pictured) for landmine detection is approved Photo: Wikipedia

Serbia and Denmark have approved the Danish plant biotechnology company, Aresa’s (Copenhagen) application to field test genetically modified thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), to detect explosives in soil thought to contain landmines.

The modified plants sense the nitrogen dioxide released by explosives and change from green to red when growing near to landmines. In Serbia, the area of release is a 3,000m2 test area near Novi Sad. The trial will be conducted in co-operation with the agricultural institute, NS Seme, in Novi Sad.

In Denmark, approval has been given for a trial in Jægerspris. These decisions will allow Aresa to further develop its landmine detection plant, RedDetect. There are plans to transfer Aresa’s RedDetect technology to tobacco plants by next year, thereby increasing its robustness and commercial potential.
By Simon Varcoe

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