BASF Plant Science set to cultivate Amflora potatoes in Germany and Sweden in 2011

BASF Plant Science has concluded its Amflora cultivation plans for the 2011 season. Amflora, the genetically enhanced potato for use in the starch industry, will this year be cultivated on two hectares of land in Üplingen (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany).

"There are many good reasons for the use of Amflora in Germany, which after all is renowned for growing starch potatoes. Separating the starch components in conventional potatoes for industrial use is not cost-effective or environmentally sound. Amflora is an innovative new variety which produces pure amylopectin starch. It therefore helps to cut down on resources, energy and costs and offers farmers and the starch processing industry real added value,"says Peter Eckes, Managing Director of BASF Plant Science.

In addition to Germany, BASF Plant Science will again be planting out Amflora in Sweden during the 2011 season. After receiving approval from the authorities for the majority of the Amflora seed stock, BASF Plant Science will this year be concentrating on propagating seed stock for cultivation in subsequent years. BASF is performing very strict internal quality checks for this purpose and is only using the best quality seed stock.

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