J.R. Simplot's Innate Potatoes Now Approved by the FDA
BOISE, ID - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved Simplot’s Russet Burbank variety potato, Innate, which is genetically modified to resist the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine. The FDA concluded that they are not “materially different in composition, safety, and other relevant parameters, from any other potato or potato-derived food or feed currently on the market.”
“We’re excited to continue momentum on our Innate technology platform,” said Haven Baker, Vice President and General Manager of Simplot Plant Sciences. “In our first two generations we have addressed the issues of plant disease, health, and quality by harnessing the strongest traits within the potato family and we’re now set to address global potato challenges.”
This comes just over five months after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the Innate Potato, the first step in getting a GMO product to market. Next up, Simplot will need to complete its registration with the Environmental Protection Agency, which will also be the final stage of approvals.
According to a Simplot press release, this second generation of Innate potatoes will provide potato growers, processors and consumers the following four benefits:
- Reduced bruising and black spots
- Reduced asparagine
- Resistance to late blight pathogens
- Enhanced cold storage capability
Each of these benefits were achieved by adapting genes from wild and cultivated potatoes.
“The Innate Gen. 2 potato is a major advancement in the potato industry,” said Duane Grant, potato farmer and owner of Grant 4D Farms in Rupert, Idaho. “Late blight disease can and does wreak havoc on organic and conventional potato crops and now we have an effective solution that should reduce fungicide use and reduce the millions of pounds of wasted potatoes each year.”
Late blight is caused by a fungus-like pathogen, and Innate Gen. 2 potatoes contain a gene from a South American wild potato species that provides natural resistance to certain strains of the pathogen. Simplot has estimated that Innate’s late blight resistance trait can result in a 25-45% reduction in fungicide applications annually to control late blight, and could reduce food waste by 986 million pounds.
