EU: Amflora Approval

For those who just joined us, I am doing an internship with BASF Plant Sciences. Recently there has been an increased buzz running through our campus here in Germany. It was a couple of weeks now, but the European Union has finally made a break through on genetically modified plants. The EU Commission approved Amflora!

Amflora is a potato that produces only the amylopectin starch required for industrial starch use. Conventional potatoes contain amylose and amylopectin starch and separating them is very uneconomical. See the wiki page for more information or google it!

Anyways I felt I should share this information because the people I work with are the project managers who have worked to get approval after 13 years!! Seeing their product be approved and begin preparations for market introduction has been really a great experience.

This is a big step in the agriculture world. With the acceptance of GM products evolving in Europe show positive signs for many years to come. It also means that this is a trait that is not owned by Monsanto. With this increase competition, agriculture could be looking for some major changes in years to come and that is something to be excited about!!