Commercial applications of GM potato crops

Global sales for transgenic crops were estimated at $75 million in 1995, increasing to $235 million in 1996 and $670 million in 1997 (James, 2000). In 1999 the estimated value was approximately two billion dollars (a 30-fold increase in five years). In descending order of cropping area the ranking order for GM crops is soybean (54% of total), maize (24%), cotton and canola (rapeseed; 9%), potato, squash and papaya (1% or less). The USA has the highest proportion of GM crops with 74% of the world total, followed by Argentina (15%), and Canada (10%). Herbicide-tolerant crops occupy 71% of the area grown, insect-resistant Bt)(crops 28%. Romania and the Ukraine have grown introductory areas of Bt potato (less than 1000 ha) but the majority of commercial potato crops have been grown in North America. No potato crop currently has European Union approval for commercial release into the environment.

This section is primarily aimed at the commercial applications of GM potato. When the section was conceived the only company to have this crop in the commercial market place was Monsanto, a St Louis-based agricultural biotechnology and herbicide company of which the Pharmacia Corporation now owns 85%. Monsanto markets GM potato through its NatureMark® biotechnology unit. The potato lines developed by NatureMark® will be outlined later. According to a Reuters report on 21 March 2001, the Monsanto Company stated that it would no longer be marketing genetically modified potatoes as part of a streamlining of its biotechnology crop portfolio to focus on wheat, corn, soybeans and cotton. This decision was no doubt influenced by statements from some leading processing and fast-food outlet companies that consumer concerns over GM potato products had affected their GM purchasing policy. Since the processing market is the major one for potato in North America, the GM potato business becomes non-viable as a result.

Today’s reliable, cheap, potatoes are a testimony to the ingenuity of scientists, agronomists and farmers over the past 100 years, and a tremendous success story by any standards. However, even with all the advances in agricultural science some 40% of potato harvests are lost world-wide to diseases, pests and weeds, a figure which might reach 75% if it were not for crop protection products (Rhodes, 2000). NatureMark® commercialised its potato GM lines through the NewLeafTM brand name and the first-generation targets were aimed at resolving some of these key production issues. The current regulatory status of NatureMark® potato lines is shown in Table 9.2. The lines developed are described below.

  Table 9.2 Current regulatory status of New LeafTM potato lines
      USA   Canada   Mexico   Japan   Russia   Romania   Australia
  NewLeafTM   P       P   I   I   I   PU
  NewLeafTMY   P   P                   U
  NewLeafTM Plus   P   P                   U
  P - production approval
I - import approval
U - under review (expected for food import by end of 2001)