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 Development of transgenic potato
The development of genetically modified potato that has occurred in Svalov since the 1980s, closed down. The reason is the resistance to GM crops in Europe.
Since the 1980s, work has been conducted in Sweden to develop a genetically modified starch potato industry.
The development is located today at the company Plant Science Sweden in Svalov as three years ago is a wholly owned subsidiary of the German BASF Plant Science. Last year the EU approved one of the potato varieties developed in Sweden. The potato called Amflora and is a starch potato industry. Scientists in Svalov has also come up with a more easily cultivated potato starch called Amadea and develop a ware, Fortuna, which resists mildew and brown rot. Now add BASF down its operations in Sweden and interrupt the development of GM potatoes. According to a press release from BASF is closing on resistance to genmodiferade crops in large parts of Europe. Because there is no commercial sense to continue investing in products aimed solely to this market, says Stefan Marcinowski at BASF Plant Science in a statement. The head office and much of the activity in plant biotechnology moved from Germany to the U.S. total disappearance of 140 services in Europe, including six in Sweden. We will concentrate on the attractive markets for plant biotechnology in the Americas and in the growing markets in Asia, says Stefan Marcinowski. The closure comes at a time when the first round Amflora is ready for wider testing in the industry. Instead, now the stock of already harvested potatoes will be destroyed. Last year, BASF sought approval even for Amadea in the EU. The company says that it will complete all applications for marketing approval by the company submitted to the EU. BASF spends all development and commercialization of genmodiferad potatoes are welcomed by the environmental organization Greenpeace. It is very gratifying that BASF now puts GM potato Amflora on the shelf. BASF admits that Europeans do not want GM crops and they have good reason for it, says Patrik Eriksson, campaign manager at Greenpeace in a statement. |
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