Novel U.S. Biotech Greenhouse Enterprise Focused on Processing Potatoes
A fresh new biotech greenhouse enterprise of more than 6,000 square meters, which is cultivating genetically-engineered potatoes bred specifically for processing, and a variety of other plants, went public on May 24 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by numerous Henderson County government and agricultural leaders.
Ohalo Genetics’ Founder and CTO, Judson Ward, stated that the business has invested USD9m in the new state-of-the-art facility, which is located next to the greenhouse at Van Wingerden International.
“[…] As of May 24, the company employs eight people in their Mills River location but will be tripling that number in a few weeks,” Ward added, cited by Blue Ridge Now.
Ward also stated that he intends to hire a potato breeder and would be offering numerous other positions soon.
“We are offering a job to a potato breeder today, and we’re going to be hiring more technicians throughout the rest of the year. We’re looking to add as many as 10 to 20 more jobs. Everyone here has been so nice, and we’re hoping to make a little bit of an injection into the local economy,” the Ohalo Genetics’ Founder and CTO mentioned, according to the same media source.
According to Ward, the Ohalo Genetics team is using an evolutionary lens to ‘re-imagine the art and science of plant breeding’.
“Our goal is to sustainably support Earth’s growing population; and, to that end, we’ve spent the past two years building a new chassis to transform breeding and production systems. I previously led the molecular breeding team at Driscoll’s. My team used new technologies to advance the application of genetics and genomics in diploid and polyploid crops. This work supported efficient traditional plant breeding (non-GMO only) that streamlined resource use and resulted in more flavorful varieties that require less agronomic input,” Ward declared.
