Biotech Updates

EU-JRC Notification for Environmental Release of GM Potato with Altered Starch Composition

February 11, 2011

An application for the release into the environment of potato line AV43-6G7 was recently announced by the EU-Joint Research Center. BASF (Czech) plans to conduct the environmental release into a one hectare area in Humpolec, region Vysocina in Czech Republic from 2011 to 2016.

The genetically modified potato contains the trait that inhibits the granulebound starch synthase that enables it to produce higher fraction of amylopectin form of starch. The trial aims to: generate data on agronomic performance, produce plant material for expression analyses, evaluate the agricultural and industrial value and, analyze the starch content and composition.

Similar releases are also planned in the Netherlands and Sweden.

For more details, see the dossier at http://gmoinfo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/gmp_report.aspx?CurNot=B/CZ/11/1