Plastic as a renewable raw material

Cyanophycin is being produced in potatoes following the transfer of a gene from a cyanobacterium. Cyanophycin can be used to obtain a biodegradable plastic. Now researchers are conducting field trials using the potatoes as a model plant to test to what extent plants can be used as safe production systems for bioplastics. Two BMBF-funded biosafety projects are also involved in the research.

Research Potato

Amflora - a potato for industrial applications.

A GM potato with a modified starch composition that makes it more suitable for certain industrial applications has been authorised for cultivation in Europe since March 2010. The potato was developed by BASF Plant Science and was subjected to repeated scientific analyses and tests during an approval process that lasted 13 years, before being approved by the European Commission in 2010. At the beginning of 2012, however, BASF stopped marketing the Amflora potato in Europe because of a lack of public acceptance. more

Research Results

“We have not found any effects that go beyond normal varietal differences.”

A team of researchers led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has been investigating the effect of different potato varieties on soil quality from 2005 to 2008. The GM potatoes accumulate zeaxanthin in their tubers. GMO Safety spoke to Michael Schloter, head of the research team.more

Research Potato

Strategies to control a devious pathogen

Phytophthora infestans, the pathogen responsible for potato late blight, is one of the most devastating potato diseases of all. The tiny fungus causes annual harvest losses of around 3 billion euros. Attempts to breed resistant varieties have so far failed to bring lasting success, because the pathogen always manages to breach the bred-in resistance. A genetically modified potato containing two resistance genes from wild potatoes is currently being tested at various sites in Europe. more