Brussels, 31/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - German chemicals group BASF announced on Monday 31 October that it had applied for European approval for the commercial cultivation of its genetically modified Fortuna potato, for both food and feed.
“Market introduction is expected for 2014/15”, says a press release from BASF, Europe's top chemicals group, which has been building up its activities in genetically modified organisms (GMOs) over recent years. The next stage in the approval process is for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to test the safety of the Fortuna potato for humans, animals and the environment.
BASF Plant Science started research efforts on the disease-resistant potato in 2003. The Fortuna variety has been tested in field trials for six years and has been subjected to extensive safety assessments, says the BASF press release. Fortuna resists late blight, the most devastating potato disease in the world, which was one of the main causes of the Irish famine of the 19th century. Up to 20% of annual harvests the world over are still lost to this disease, according to the German group.
The Fortuna potato is aimed mainly at human consumption. It was developed from the Fontane potato, one of the leading varieties for chip-making.
BASF says it had successfully transferred two late-blight resistant genes from a South American wild potato.
BASF has already obtained European authorisation for a GMO potato, Amflora, for three uses: industrial (starch for paper pulp and fertiliser from the liquid), animal feed (the pulp) and up to 0.9% residue in products for human consumption. The group has also sought approval for Amadea, a more recent variant of Amflora.
Hitherto, only MON 810 maize from Monsanto and the GM potato Amflora for BASF have been approved for cultivation in the EU. (LC/transl.rt)