The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced on Friday that it had approved a second genetically engineered (GE) potato variety developed by the J.R. Simplot Company, an important step in bringing the potato to market. The potato is modified for late-blight resistance, reduced black-spot bruising and other attributes, including ones designed to reduce food waste by allowing the spuds to be stored at colder temperatures for longer periods of time. The determination becomes effective on Sept. 2, when the notice will be published in the Federal Register.
The first generation of the Simplot potato, marketed under its Innate brand, was approved in March by the FDA as safe for consumers. The Associated Press reported that “about 400 acres’ worth sold out last summer in grocery stores in 10 states in the Midwest and Southeast. The company plans to market about 2,000 acres of potatoes next summer.”
The FDA and the EPA still need to grant approval of the new potato before it can be sold to American consumers. “For historical reasons and current agriculture reasons, this is an important milestone,” Haven Baker, vice president of plant sciences at Simplot told the AP. “The Irish potato famine did change a lot of Western history. Even today – 160 years later – late blight is a $5 billion problem for the global potato industry.”
The AP also said that one of Simplot’s oldest customers, McDonald’s, does not plan to use the first-generation Innate potato, and did not respond to inquiries on the latest approval.