On the 18th of February the Irish Farmers’ Association and Teagasc together with BordBia (The Irish Food Board) organised the 2014 National Potato Conference in Dublin to share their knowledge and experience of the potato industry with all the attendants coming from UK and Ireland.
The morning session focused on Consumer Trends and Market Development, while the afternoon session concentrated on the research aspect with presentations on the GM Potato study carried out by Teagasc in the framework of the AMIGA project and a presentation from ADAS, which looked at managing potatoes, minimising compaction and optimising supply using green manures.
Dr Ewen Mullins from Teagasc presented the GM potato study’s first results. ”Based on the first year’s data, the GM potato has demonstrated robust resistance to late blight but the durability of this resistance against Irish blight has yet to be determined and will be monitored through the remainder of the study,” the senior research officer explained.
The three-year research is investigating whether there are long-term impacts associated with this specific GM crop and how the late blight disease itself responds. Ireland’s first GM experiment was completed last year and Dr Mullins explained that plans are now at an advanced stage for a repeat study in 2014.
In his presentation, Dr Mullins stressed that Teagasc is not producing GM late blight resistant potatoes for production or commercial purposes but its role to investigate the potential negative and/or positive impacts of GM technology in regard to this specific GM variety and then inform the stakeholders and the general public as to conclusions based on an Irish specific research study.
Last year more than 1,000 people visited Oak Park to see and discuss about the GM research developed by Teagasc. The three-year field programme will be completed in 2016, where the full results are expected to be scientifically published.
Information on the Irish trials can also be found on www.gmoinfo.ie.