There are ugly words and nice words and, for years, I was one of many who thought Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) was ugly and to be avoided. After all, what did scientific manipulation have to do with the food we eat?

By Andre Erasmus

This debate has continued for years. It has even been a topic of heated discussion at the International Potato Processing and Storage Convention (IPPSC) in past years.

Companies like BASF, Monsanto and others have had good and bad press – mainly bad – over the years about their GMO efforts. It’s been so bad that Monsanto is often referred to as ‘the most evil corporation on the planet’. But are they? Scientists and researchers are aware of the need for better food products.

As ideas and ideals are changing, there is a growing belief that, in an effort to meet food shortages, GMO will be up there with labels like ‘organic’ and ‘free-from’ which were once ‘mysterious’ but are now acceptable options. Not just yet, I feel.

But this is where biotechnology comes into play. Surely producing a better potato will be better for all of us?  And, given the bad press the potato has had of late – not only the GMO debate – perhaps it needs to be marketed better?

So here’s the good news! I read just last week that the UK Potato Council’s potato promotion strategy has received EU funding.

The strategy is to halt the sales and consumption decline of fresh potatoes, to generate market growth and to increase awareness that potatoes are healthy and nutritious.

The EU Commission has approved 50 per cent co-funding for the GBP 3.6m information and promotion campaign to support potatoes in the British and Irish markets.

Let’s hope others follow suit and promote what we do to help shed light into the matter.

Keeping the potato firmly in focus is the goal of the IPPSC and news on research into storage to provide perfect potatoes is always part of the deal.

This year, with Bucharest, Romania as the venue for the IPPSC, storage matters are once again a key component of the Convention.

Taking place from June 17-19, this much-anticipated event will feature some interesting talks on the matters of storage.

Long time convention stalwart Tjaart Hofman from Certis Europe is back, this time talking on CIPC and 3-decen-2-one and long-term storage. He will be joined by Paul Kok from Omnivent who will address innovations in storage.

Both Paul and Tjaart are knowledgeable and interesting speakers who I have heard before at IPPSC events and their topic matter will be highly informative for all sector representatives.

Michel Martin, President of the EAPR, is among the new speakers at IPPSC, along with other storage matter presenters like Agrovent’s Huub Kasius and Dr Avi Nachmias from the Center for Potato Research in Hot Climates.

And that’s not all. I know this edition of the IPPSC has been eagerly anticipated across the industry and the list of speakers, while not yet complete, is already exciting. There’s more information at http://www.potatoconvention.com/home

And the goal? A better potato product for all of us. 

Related articles: 

US Department of Agriculture announces GMO public comment period

EU member states will have the freedom to decide on the GMOs use for food and feed

McDonald’s does not plan to use J.R. Simplot’s GMO potatoes

SFA CEO urges American Congress to approve federal standard for GMO food labels

The US FDA gave green light to six varieties of GMO potatoes