Public comment will be accepted starting Friday on a line of biotech potatoes introduced by Simplot Plant Sciences with low acrylamide levels, low sugars and black-spot bruising resistance.
The traits have been incorporated into Atlantic, Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank potatoes. Simplot's research unit has been working on the project for 12 years, using a trademarked technology it calls Innate.
All of the DNA used in the process comes from wild potato species. Simplot officials hope the fact they've used DNA only from other potatoes for their process will improve public acceptance.
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will publish Simplot's request for deregulation in the Federal Register on May 3.
According to Simplot literature, Innate technology allows researchers to isolate genetic elements from a potato plant genome, rearrange them in desirable configurations and reintroduce them into a plant.
SOURCE: John O'Connell, Capital Press
http://www.capitalpress.com/newsletter/JO-Innate-050213