Switzerland
Agroscope may test GM potato
Potato against late blight
Agroscope wants to test a potato with improved resistance against late blight. Scientists at Wageningen University developed the potato. They have inserted potatoes of the varieties Atlantic and Désirée with a gene from a wild potato. A statement by the federal government mentions that Agroscope wants to investigate whether this resistance is sufficient against Swiss strains of late blight. Furthermore should the test clarify how the potato behaves in the field and in what way the resistance affects the environment.
Start in April
The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) granted the request filed by Agroscope in the autumn of 2014. Agroscope wants to start with the trial in April 2015; and it should not exceed five years. The trial will take place on a protected site at Agroscope Reckenholz. This experimental facility started operations in the spring of 2014.
Most important potato disease in the world
Agroscope must meet a number of requirements, for example, an advisory committee must be organized, which monitors the test on site, and reports to the FOEN. In addition, plans how to handle in case of emergencies must be in place. Late blight is, according to Agroscope, the most important potato disease in the world. To avoid crop and quality loss, an average of seven to eight treatments with fungicides are performed per year against late blight. The use of resistant varieties can reduce the use of pesticides.
Majority against genetic engineering
The Swiss Working Group Genetic Engineering (Schweizerische Arbeitsgruppe Gentechnologie, SAG) rejects experiment. "The scarce research funds in Switzerland should not be used for experiments that provide no solution for our agriculture," criticizes SAG President Maya Graf in a press release. All known Swiss food labels guarantee GMO-free products. A majority of the Swiss rejects genetic engineering in food. It would make more sense if the funds were used for research projects that cultivate resistant varieties, instead of expensive trials with controversial technology. The SAG criticized the researchers of genetically modified potatoes because they rely on the commercially popular varieties that have a high susceptibility to disease. In the Netherlands remarkable success had already been achieved with new organically cultivated varieties that are resistant to late blight.
Source: www.fruchtnews.de