In Denmark, KMC is a leader in the use of NGT technologies in potatoes, and by having our own breeding laboratory, the knowledge we have built will remain with KMC.
By mastering advanced NGT techniques, including CRISPR-Cas and other gene editing tools, the ambition is to precisely target and modify genetic sequences to improve resistance to blight. In our new breeding laboratory, we will soon master the latest NGT techniques, which will allow us to develop potato varieties with increased blight resistance and in the future also the possibility to enhance resistance to other diseases. These techniques enable us to make precise adjustments, resulting in crop varieties that are more robust and resistant.
In the sterile rooms of the laboratory, all work is carried out under controlled conditions, minimizing the risk of contamination. This guarantees the safety and quality of the plants we develop. Finally, the propagation and screening of NGT plants play a crucial role in our process. After performing genetic modifications, the plants are tested under various conditions for their effectiveness and durability against, for instance, blight. This ensures that only the best and most blight-resistant varieties proceed to actual field trials.
In addition to increased resistance to blight and other diseases, NGT also allows us to tailor the characteristics of potato varieties to meet specific needs in both cultivation and usage. This could, for example, mean precisely adjusting the potatoes to provide specific properties in the starch – both native and modified starches alike – to benefit customers and end users.
We are naturally still eagerly awaiting the approval of NGT in the EU and look forward to continuing the work in the new laboratory and exploring the many new opportunities that NGT can bring KMC as well as our customers and business partners.