Irish Researchers at Teagasc think GM potatoes may provide answer to blight fears

A genetically modified variety of spud may have to be produced in Irish laboratories because of the growing threat from blight.

The fungal disease that wiped out the potato crop in the mid-19th century, causing more than 1m deaths, is posing a renewed menace after a more aggressive strain arrived, according to a leading scientist. This has prompted experts to intensify work, including using GM technology, to find a blight-resistant variety.

Dr Ewen Mullins, a research officer with Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, said the risk of blight has become more serious in the past two years.

He said: “It’s primarily our geographic location. We have humid, damp summers and the past two years have seen outbreaks of blight, probably the worst on record.

Mullins said farmers relying on normal potato crops would also be affected by new EU regulations aimed at reducing use of pesticides and fungicides. “If we were to reduce chemicals by up to 40% on our potato crop, that would challenge potato growers,” he said. “We [think] GM is worth investigating from that point of view.