Press Releases

Delavan, Wisconsin
April 21, 1998

American Ag-Tec International, Ltd. of Delavan, Wisconsin was a featured segment on the February 26, 1998 live downlink of NASA’s fifth annual International Space Station (ISS) satellite teleconference, "International Space Station: Open for Business."

The program which was downlinked to more than 600 locations throughout the United States and a number of countries worldwide, was aimed at a specific audience made up of scientists, educators, students and businessmen. Lee Thornton, CBS correspondent and National Public Radio Host, acted as moderator to this media event which brought together scientists, former astronauts and NASA space researchers along with innovative biotechnology, materials processing and Agriculture experts.

Agriculture and biotechnology was represented by Robert G. Britt, President of American Ag-Tec International, Ltd., the developer of the Quantum Tubers™ technology. Quantum Tubers™ is a biomanufacturing technology which employs biotechnology in the development of pathogen-free, nuclear seed potatoes called minitubers.

The development of the Quantum Tubers™ rapid reproduction method of biomanufacturing potato minitubers as the beginning seed stock for multiplication of seed potatoes, is creating a dramatic impact on the production of potatoes worldwide. The Quantum Tubers™ system enables countries which have not been able to grow their own seed potatoes in the past to be able to raise their own seed needs. Those countries who have depended entirely upon imported seed potatoes to multiply locally, can now become independent of the burdens of importing their seed needs. Seed potatoes can be multiplied from pathogen-free minitubers grown locally at any location in the world where potatoes are grown commercially when using the Quantum Tubers™ biomanufacturing system.

NASA became involved in the Quantum Tubers™ project through the NASA center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison via WCSAR (Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics) which was involved in closed cell growth chambers used in growing plants in space aboard the space shuttle Columbia. Since the first introduction of the Quantum Tubers™ technology to WCSAR, a relationship developed which grew into the fully computerized and precisely controlled growth chambers in use today in the Quantum Tubers™ technology for potato minituber production.

Systems nearly parallel to the Quantum Tubers™ system, but more spaceworthy, are currently flying aboard the Russian space station MIR, and are being adapted for installation on the International Space Station (ISS) at completion of its launch which is beginning in June 1998. The ISS is destined to use cutting-edge life sciences, materials, biotechnology and agricultural research in its new orbiting laboratories. The Quantum Tubers™ technology is proud to be a part of the NASA program as a commercially available technology which is now available back on Earth.

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