Ireland mulls test of GM potatoes

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland, Europe's biggest per capita consumer of potatoes, is weighing a proposal by German chemicals group BASF to grow varieties that have been genetically modified to resist disease. DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland, Europe's biggest per capita consumer of potatoes, is weighing a proposal by German chemicals group BASF to grow varieties that have been genetically modified to resist disease. BASF asked the Environment Protection Agency this week to approve a field trial of several strains of GMO potato that are resistant to blight, the cause of the Irish potato famine that killed one million people and forced two million to leave the island in 1845. Today, the Irish eat some 121 kg of potatoes per person every year, or nearly 1,000 potatoes for every man, woman and child. Previous trials of GMO foods in Ireland have been disrupted by environmentalists who pulled up crops and damaged fields. The Green Party and Sinn Fein both called for the application to be rejected. "Genetically modified crops are likely to contaminate our conventional and organic produce," said Green Party Leader Trevor Sargent. "But the Green Party will continue to fight any predatory tactics of any GM food company, to undermine the viability of Ireland as a green, clean food producing island." Blight-resistant GMO potatoes were first developed in 2003 after scientists discovered a species of wild potato in Mexico that is naturally resistant to the disease, then inserted the gene into commercial strains. The EPA plans to review submissions from the public regarding potential health and environmental risks within the next 28 days. "Source":[ http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=12132&start=11&control=218&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1]

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