Genetically modified potatoes resistant to late potato blight
will be planted on two sites in England in 2007.
DEFRA has approved an
application by agchem giant
BASF to undertake
the trials, which will test the effectiveness of the potato's
resistance against UK strains of the disease.
Similar trials are already underway in three other European
countries.
The application has been evaluated by independent body the
Advisory Committee
of Releases to the Environment (ACRE).
DEFRA said ACRE was satisfied that the trials, in Derbyshire and
Cambridgeshire, would not adversely affect human health or the
environment.
Precautionary conditions would ensure that GM material did not
persist at the trial sites, said DEFRA.
The harvested GM potatoes would not be used for food or animal
feed.Environment Minister Ian Pearson said the top priority was to
protect consumers and the environment.
“A rigorous independent assessment has concluded that these
trials do not give rise to any safety concerns.”
BASF’s Barry Stickings said: “We are delighted that DEFRA has
given us the go-ahead to conduct genetically modified potato trials
in the UK.
“We are confident that planting will commence in March/April
next year.”
Mr Stickings said the genetically improved potatoes used a wild
potato’s natural trait that caused resistance to blight.
“The research could provide a valuable new way to control a
severe disease that causes global crop damage costing up to £2bn a
year.”
BASF submitted an application to DEFRA on 21 August 2006 to
undertake the trials.
