BASF is confident that the commission will grant approval for its GM Amflora potatoes Photo: Christa Richert

BASF’s genetically modified Amflora potatoes are soon likely to be approved for cultivation by the EU Commission, says the company. The new potato line produces amylopectin but no amylose, an unusable component of potato starch that has previously been removed at high expense.

In July 2007, the EU Council of Agriculture failed to reach a definitive decision on the commercial cultivation of the product.  Under EU law, the European Commission must now make the final decision.  Though a date for the decision has not been set, it is expected to be within the next few weeks.  BASF is confident that the commission will grant approval for the product.

The Dutch potato starch company, Avebe, is also working on reduced amylose potato lines and is soon to begin field trials in the Netherlands (see www.agrow.com, 11/09/07, Agrow Biotech News, AVEBE to field trial GM potatoes in Netherlands).  This competition is proof, says BASF, that producing potatoes with reduced amylose content is a worthwhile project.
By Simon Varcoe

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