Two biotechnology breakthroughs

Genetically engineered crops

A breakthrough occurred this century in crop improvement: it is now possible to isolate genes from one organism and introduce them into another. When such genes carry a particular characteristic, the transformed organism will acquire the corresponding new trait.

Belgian technology has pioneered the development of today’s most widely used method of plant transformation, the Agrobacterium tumefaciens system (agroinfection). This technology was based on an earlier finding from a laboratory of the Rijksuniversiteit Gent in the 1970s of the transfer of DNA from a soil bacterium to a plant. There is no doubt that this laboratory research was a precursor of today’s biotechnological revolution. Although there are now other methods of transferring genes, the agroinfection technology is still the best-suited for use in developing country laboratories, since it does not require an investment in sophisticated or costly equipment.

Nearly 15 years ago, potato was the first food crop to be genetically engineered, and it has since maintained its position as a leader among transgenic crops. The agroinfection technology is now routinely used in research on both potato and sweetpotato at the International Potato Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIP. In fact, since the first introduction of this technology at the Center in 1985, thousands of independent transgenic potato clones have been produced. Early experience with potato led to the application of agroinfection techniques on sweetpotato, and in 1987, CIP was the first laboratory to report in the literature a transgenic event in this crop. These milestones opened the portals for CIP scientists to engineer numerous traits in these crops, with a major focus on pest and disease resistance, to benefit farmers, consumers and the environment.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens system.

Insect resistance in potato

The second breakthrough that Belgian technology brought to CIP’s research program is the transfer of insect resistance to potatoes. Indeed, the agroinfection process was successfully applied at the International Potato Center to transfer a bacterial gene conferring insect resistance employing the technology of Plant Genetic Systems (PGS), Gent. Since then, more than 10 developing-country potato varieties have been engineered with resistance to the potato tuber moth. This research has been highly successful in generating a technology that promises to reduce or eliminate crop losses caused by this pest. CIP economists estimate that roughly $500 million in annual losses can be attributed to the potato tuber moth alone.

This work at CIP helps to bridge the gap between high technology from both public and private laboratories and the agricultural sector of developing countries. While engineered potatoes have been commercialized in the private sector, CIP continues with its work to make the results of this technology available to the public sector. An additional effort is needed to develop adequate strategies and a regulatory framework for introducing genetically-modified crops into developing country agriculture.

Sweetpotato stands to gain from the same technology that has proven successful for potato. The technology could be modified and applied to target sweetpotato weevils. Resource-poor farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia—where sweetpotato is an important contributor to food security—would be among the primary beneficiaries of such research.

Laminar flow chamber and regenerated transgenic potato.