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SPUDSMART.COM18GlobalAcceptanceTeagascdoesnothaveplanstocompleteanyotherfeld-basedstudiesafterthisGMstudy.HoweversimilarworkinvolvingblightresistanceisbeingconductedintheNetherlandsandtherehavebeenseparatestudiescompletedinBelgiumandintheUnitedKingdom.InCanadaresearchisalsolimitedasGMpotatoesarenotavailableforpublictesting.AccordingtoVikramBishtaplantpathologistwithManitobaAgricultureFoodsandRuralInitiativesbasedinCarmanMan.therehassimplybeenalackofmarketability.WhenGMpotatoeswereinitiallybeingcommercializedgrowersdiscoveredthatacceptancewithinthemarketplacewaslimitedwhichledtoachainreactionwithintheindustryexplainsBisht.WhiletheremaybelabsconductingresearcharoundtheworldGMpotatoesarenotcommerciallyaccessible.Ifaquick-servicerestaurantwillnotacceptGMthemarketabilityisverylimited.InEuropeBASFannouncedinearly2012thatitwasmovingtheheadquartersofitsPlantScienceunittoResearchTriangleParkNorthCarolinaandhaltingthedevelopmentandcommercializationofallGMproductstargetedsolelyforcultivationinEurope.ThisincludedseveralGMstarchpotatoesapotatoresistanttothediseaselateblightandalateblightresistantstarchpotato.AccordingtoBrittaStellbrinkspokespersonforBASFPlantSciencebasedinLimburgerhofGermanythecompanyintendstofocusontheattractivemarketsinNorthandSouthAmericaforthedevelopmentofGMproducts.Weseeplantbiotechnologyasakeytechnologyforthe21stcenturyexplainsStellbrink.HoweverthereisstillalackofacceptanceforthistechnologyinmanypartsofEurope.Thereforeitdoesnotmakebusinesssensetoinvestanylongerinproductsexclusivelyforcultivationthereasitwasthecasewithourpotatoprojects.GMAcceptanceAsforwhetherGMpotatoesmayseegreateracceptanceinthenearfutureMullinsisunsure.Itishardtosay.Thefeedbackwehavereceivedtodateisthatthepublicwantstoknowmoreaboutthetechnology.HoweverhenotesthattheblightresistantpotatoissomethingtheIrishpeopleappeartobeinterestedin.Theycanrelatetothisissuebecauseoftheimpactblighthashadinthecountryandbecauseweloveourspuds.Thereisalsoagrowingawarenessamongthepublicabouttheleveloffungicideusagethatexiststobringthenationalcroptomarket.ThishaspeopleaskingaboutalternativesexplainsMullins.GMPotatoLinesHaltedIn1995MonsantocompletedU.S.regulatoryauthorizationsforNewLeafpotatoaRussetBurbankimprovedusingbiotechnologytoprovideprotectionromtheColoradopotatobeetle.Canadianauthorizationwascompletedin1996.TheNewLeapotatousednaturally-occurringbacteriafoundinthesoilknownasBacillusthuringiensistoprovidein-plantprotectionromtheColoradopotatobeetle.In2001Monsantomadethedecisiontofocusitsbiotechnologyprogramonitskeyrowcrops.Ongoingactivitiesinvolvingpotatoeswerescaledback.SalesandmarketingoftheNewLeafpotatovarietiesweresuspendedbuttheproductsremainullyapprovedintheUnitedStatesandCanada.In2010BASFPlantSciencereceivedapprovalbytheEUcommissionoAmforaastarchpotatothatonlycontainspureamylopectin.Amforaisavarietyothemedium-latetolatematuritygroupwithstablehigh-starchcontentsintheormopureamylopectinandhasmediumtuberyields.Inearly2012howeverBASFannouncedthatitwasstoppingdevelopmentandcommercializationoallproductstargetedsolelyorcultivationinEuropeincludingGMstarchpotatoesAmoraAmadeaandModenaapotatoresistanttothediseaselateblightcalledFortunaandablightresistantstarchpotato.GeneticallymodifedcornandsoybeansinNorthAmericaandmanyothercountrieshavebeenacceptedsoImnotsurewhypotatoeshavehitaroadblock.Iquick-servicerestaurantsandconsumersbegintoacceptGMpotatoestherewillbeachangeinthemarketplace.VikramBishtBishtalsobelievesthatGMpotatoesmayonedaymakeittothemarketplaceifculturalperceptionschange.Wedontknowyetwhatwillhappenhesays.GeneticallymodifedcornandsoybeansinNorthAmericaandmanyothercountrieshavebeenacceptedsoImnotsurewhypotatoeshavehitaroadblock.Ifquick-servicerestaurantsandconsumersbegintoacceptGMpotatoestherewillbeachangeinthemarketplace.StellbrinkmaintainsperceptionsaroundGMproductsarechangingslowlybutBASFdoesnotperceiveopportunitiesforthecommercialcultivationofGMplantsinEuropeinthemid-term.TodayimportedGMproductsaremainlyusedforfeedinEuropeexplainsStellbrink.Buttherearemanyongoinglaboratoryprojectsandalsowearecontinuingourindustry-leadingresearchatoursitesinGermanyandBelgium.ThereisaglobaldemandformorecropstoberesistanttodiseasesandpestsaswellascropswithhigheryieldandimproveddroughtresistancelikethenewGenuityDroughtGardHybridswehavedevelopedincollaborationwithMonsanto.ShannonSchindle