USDA APHIS: GE Corn and Potato Safe to Grow in the United States

After a thorough review, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released Regulatory Status Review (RSR) responses for a corn and potato plant that were modified using genetic engineering (GE) to determine whether they present an increased pest risk as compared to unmodified plants.

The GE corn plant from Infinite Enzymes, Inc. was modified to produce the enzyme manganese peroxidase in corn seeds and modified to be resistant to the herbicide glufosinate. The potato plant from J.R. Simplot Company was modified to make it resistant to potato late blight and potato virus Y. It was also modified to alter the potato tuber sugar profile and quality.

APHIS found these plants unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated corn and potato plants. They are not subject to regulation under 7 CFR part 340. From a plant pest risk perspective, these plants may be safely grown and used in breeding in the United States. APHIS has posted the RSR responses on their website as required under 7 CFR part 340.

For more details, read the news article on the USDA APHIS website.