Potato Tuber Moth Resistant Bt Potato

The Potato Tuber Moth Resistant Bt Potato is a genetically engineered Bt Potato that has genes added so it will produce the insecticide (Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt toxin) in every cell. It was developed by USAID together with Michigan State University by adding a trait from Syngenta to a South African potato variety with the goal of reducing losses in the field and in storage by the potato tuber moth in South Africa.

Field trials began in 2002, with a projected commercialization set for 2007. As of June 2005, five of the six planting trials, set in six different ecological areas of South Africa, were completed. A 2008 article notes that the potato had not yet been commercialized and the new timeline anticipated commercialization in 2009.

Partner Organizations
USAID lists the following partner organizations on this project:
 * Michigan State University (MSU),
 * South Africa's Agricultural Research Council
 * AgBios (USA)
 * Crop Technology Consulting (USA)

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Biotechnology
 * Genetically Engineered Potato
 * Genetic Engineering
 * Syngenta
 * USAID Promotion of Agricultural Biotechnology
 * Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project (ABSP) I
 * Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project (ABSP) II
 * Michigan State University
 * U.S. State Department Promotion of Agricultural Biotechnology
 * U.S. Promotion of Ag Biotech in South Africa

External resources

 * Insect Resistant Potatoes: South Africa, USAID Fact Sheet.
 * Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) Potato Project in South Africa, Institute of International Agriculture, Michigan State University.
 * South Africa, Biosafety Update And State Senior Biotech Advisor Visit, U.S. State Department cable via Wikileaks, June 20, 2005.
 * Hot potato. South Africa’s GM potato – a critical analysis, African Centre for Biosafety.
 * Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) Potato Project in South Africa

External articles

 * "Hot potato - South Africa's GM potato - a critical analysis," African Centre for Biosafety, March 6, 2008.