SAN DIEGO, California, US — Cibus Global has partnered with Naturally Enhanced United Seed (NEU Seed), a potato grower cooperative based in Idaho, to develop and market improved traits in potato using Cibus’ natural smart breeding tool, Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS), according to a press release by Cibus. The collaboration will initially focus on enhancing crop protection tolerance and reducing blackspot bruising, with the aim of improving both productivity by reducing pesticide usage and the overall quality of potatoes available to the consumer.
马铃薯瘀伤每年给美国马铃薯产业造成近 $3 亿的损失，NEU Seed 估计其中 60% 归因于黑点瘀伤。除了通过减少浪费为农民和消费者带来显着的经济优势外，NEU Seed 和 Cibus 还专注于新开发的性状，这些性状有望减少杀虫剂的使用并提高马铃薯生产的可持续性。最终，合作伙伴打算合作开发其他重要特性，以培育更健康、质量更高的马铃薯植物，这将有利于消费者和马铃薯产业。
According to Cibus, RTDS is an environmentally safe, trait development procedure that will use the potato’s natural process of gene repair to effect a precise change in the genetic sequence. By mimicking natural methods in a highly targeted way, RTDS technology avoids the introduction of foreign genetic material into plants. RTDS has been recognized by the USDA as a mutagenesis technique, and is therefore not subject to the regulations applied to transgenic (or GM) crops. Mutagenesis-derived crops and traits are produced around the globe in a number of food categories, including grains (rice, oats, durum wheat), vegetable oil crops (sunflower, canola, flax), beer ingredients (barley, hops, yeast) and seedless fruits (grapes, citrus fruits).
“RTDS technology is revolutionary in that it enables the development in plants of valuable traits that enhance overall efficiency and product quality through a natural process,” Cibus President Dr. Keith Walker said in a prepared statement. Globally, potato is a very important food crop, and Cibus is proud to work with NEU Seed and the potato industry to enhance production and quality for the benefit of farmers, processers and consumers.”
“Cibus offers the potato industry a naturally accelerated breeding process that will lead to new and innovative technology solutions for the farmer,” Dirk Parkinson, potato grower and President of NEU Seed, said in the press release. “The RTDS technology offers North American farmers the ability to develop valuable traits through a carefully targeted process that mimics what occurs in nature. This directed and efficient approach allows for lower production costs and significantly enhances the overall quality of our product for our customers.”