Controversy grows over India's genetically modified potato

By Ganapati Mudur New Delhi

A genetically modified potato developed in India to contain extra protein is under attack, with opponents claiming that it will result in the neglect of traditional sources of protein and thus exacerbate protein deficiency.

A senior Indian biotechnology official said last week that the potato, which has undergone nearly three years of field trials, could be approved for commercial cultivation before the end of this year.

Dr Manju Sharma, India's biotechnology secretary, said that the results of the field trial results were very encouraging and that the government would like to use the potato to reduce protein deficiency.

The potato, which was developed by scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, expresses 40% more protein than wild or cultivated potatoes. The potato has been engineered with a gene, AmA1, from the amaranth plant, a grain that has been consumed for centuries in central America and Asia.

The potato is the most widely consumed non-cereal food crop in the world, but it contains low levels of essential amino acids such as lysine, methionine, cysteine, and tryptophan. The AmA1 protein is non-allergenic and rich in essential amino acids. "Its amino acid composition is superior to that recommended by the World Health Organization as optimal for human nutrition," said biologist Dr Asis Datta, head of the team that developed the transgenic potato.

But activists say the potato will have little impact on human health because the absolute increase in protein is not significant. The protein content of wild potatoes is much less than 2% of their weight. An increase of even 40% would raise it to a maximum of 2.8%.

"This incremental increase in protein content will not lead to any significant impact on health," said Dr Devinder Sharma, director of the Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security, New Delhi.

India has not so far approved any genetically modified food. Earlier this year the government rejected several thousand tonnes of genetically modified soya blend from the United States.