BASF to Plant Amflora GM Potatoes in Germany and Sweden

On 31 January 2011, BASF announced that it would grow gene modified (GM) potatoes in Sweden and in Üplingen (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany).  The potatoes will be the Amflora GM potatoes approved by the EU.  In Germany, cultivation will only be on 2 hectares of land.  BASF will be working on producing seed stock for cultivation in the future.

Amflora GM potatoes produce pure amylopectin starch, compared to the mixture of amylopectin and amylose starch produced in conventional potatoes. Amylopectin has many different economic uses in the paper, adhesive and food industries.  Separating it from amylose is costly.

For more see: "BASF Plant Science set to cultivate Amflora potatoes in Germany and Sweden in 2011," BASF Press Release P-11-142, Limburgerhof, Germany, 31 January 2011.