Potato growers could achieve potential savings of more than €450/ha if they used a blight-resistant genetically modified (GM) potato variety instead of a conventional variety.
Teagasc researcher John Spink said the biggest advantage of a GM blight-resistant potato variety would be a massive saving in the cost of blight control. Dr Spink is one of the lead researchers on the EPA-approved Teagasc trial on GM potatoes, due to commence this autumn.