Gillund, F., Millar, K., Utskarpen, A. and Myhr, A.I. (2015) Examining the Social And Ethical Issues Raised by Possible Cultivation of Genetically Modified Potato With Late Blight Resistance in Norway, GenØk Biosafety Report 2015/04, 46p

This report presents the outcome of a stakeholder workshop that took place in Stange, Norway, June 2015. Participants were invited to discuss ethical and social considerations in relation to the possible marketing and cultivation of late blight resistant (LBR) cisgenic genetically modified (GM) potato in Norway. An important aim of the workshop was to contribute to the operationalization of assessment criteria concerning “social utility” and “ethical justifiability” in the Norwegian Gene Technology Act for this specific GM crop plant. Potato late blight (LB) is the most devastating disease on potatoes globally. Current control measures in conventional potato production are largely based on chemical treatment with fungicides that is costly, both for potato producers and the environment. Hence, this GM potato is claimed to be one of the first GM plants that have the potential to solve a serious problem for Norwegian and European farmers. If successful, it may result in a reduction of fungicide applications to control the late blight disease in potato production. Moreover, these are cisgenic GM potatoes, i.e. genes are derived from naturally crossable wild potato species only, which may influence consumers’ perception and acceptance. This type of GM potato is therefore an interesting case for an ethical deliberation exercise.

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