Dublin, Ireland
January 25, 2006
BASF Plant Science announced today that they have submitted
a notification on January 12th 2006 to the Irish
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) for the conduct of a field trial with genetically modified
late blight-resistant potatoes. This notification was submitted
in line with the relevant regulatory framework.
The proposed field trial would be
conducted on a farm at Arodstown, Summerhill, Co. Meath. The
trial plants will occupy no more than 2.5 acres in an
experimental plot of about five acre. The proposed trial period
is from 2006 – 2010. There is a full schedule and outline of the
proposed release in the formal notification to the EPA.
Potatoes with improved resistance
to late blight have been successfully tested in the field in
Sweden in 2005. In addition to Ireland BASF Plant Science
intends to conduct similar trials in Sweden, the Netherlands and
Germany this year, and has submitted notifications to the
relevant authorities in these countries.
In line with the legal
requirements BASF Plant Science will publish an announcement
regarding the submission of the notification in a national Irish
newspaper on January 26th.
To exploit the potential of
biotechnology, BASF, a leading player in agricultural products
and fine chemicals, established BASF Plant Science as its proper
plant biotechnology company in 1998. BASF Plant Science operates
a research and development platform in Europe and North America,
where more than 450 employees are developing products in the
following areas: crops for a more efficient agriculture and for
the production of renewable raw materials as well as plants for
healthier nutrition. Examples are plants with higher vitamin
content, or with omega-3-fatty acids that can prevent
cardiovascular diseases.
BASF has been represented in
Ireland since the late 1950’s, originally through an Irish
company, Denis Coakley & Co. BASF Ireland was established in
1983 and is now part of BASF Business Centre Europe North. We
market a wide range of BASF products and supply leading
manufacturing industries and the agricultural sector. Our
offices are in Clonee, Co. Meath.
BASF is the world’s leading
chemical company: The Chemical Company. In 2004, BASF had
approximately 82,000 employees and posted sales of more than €
37 billion.
To find out more about BASF Plant Science, please see our web
site at:
http://www.basf.com/biotechnology
Link to the relevant section of
the Irish EPA:
http://www.epa.ie/Licensing/GMOLicensing/DeliberateReleaseofGMOs/ProposedFieldTrialwithGMPotatoes/
Notification for
the release into the environment of genetically modified
potatoes with improved resistance to Phytophthora infestans
(2006 – 2010) |