BASF Plant Science AmfloraAmflora -- PotatoPotato AmylopectinAmylopectin throughthrough PlantPlant BiotechnologyBiotechnology
Starch Convention, Detmold, April 16-17, 2008 Per Hofvander, Henk Jaap Meijer, Christine Wandelt, Christian Biesgen, Matthias Nachtmann, Timo Böhme, Roland Kurth and Thorsten Storck, Limburgerhof (Germany)
1 BASF Plant Science
Outline
! Amflora " Idea " The „Making of Amflora“ " Advantages of Amflora starch " Business model " Status EU approval and market introduction
! Improving potatoes: The roles of breeding and plant biotechnology
! Potatoes resistant to late blight
2 BASF Plant Science Potato Starch
Production ! Global: 2.5 Mio tons ! EU: 2.0 Mio tons EU (10 Mio tons potatoes) ! 90% of EU production: D, NL, F, DK, PL
Markets ! 60% food applications ! 40% technical applications " Paper, adhesives, building, textile " Thickening, binding, sizing
Key characteristics ! High MW ! Low fat ! Low protein
3 BASF Plant Science Potato Starch: Amylopectin and Amylose
Amylose Amylopectin
CH OH 2 O * O HO HO CH OH 2 O O * O HO CH HO 2 O O HO HO O *
4 BASF Plant Science The Making of Amflora: The “Trick”
Potato Starch Amflora Starch 80% 20% > 98% Amylopectin Amylose Amylopectin
Switch off gene for key enzyme of amylose synthesis
5 BASF Plant Science The Making of Amflora: Genes Determine Starch Composition
Coding Region Promoter Terminator Gene GBSS Gene (Granule Bound Starch Synthase) mRNA
Protein GBSS Enzyme
Amylose
6 BASF Plant Science The Making of Amflora: The Antisense Effect
Coding Region Coding Region (Antisense) Promoter Terminator Gene mRNA
Protein RNA degraded ! no GBSS Protein ! no Amylose Amylose
7 BASF Plant Science The Making of Amflora: The Gene Construct
Selection gene Trait gene NOS NptII NOS GBSS GBSS (as) NOS +
Plasmid
Agrobacterium
8 BASF Plant Science The Making of Amflora: The Transformation
”Co-cultivation”RegenerationSelection Potato plant with new trait
9 BASF Plant Science Amflora: Precious Spuds
10 BASF Plant Science Amflora starch: Amylopectin
11 BASF Plant Science Amflora: A Starch is Born
Properties ! Pure amylopectin functionality ! Stable thickening without gelling
Advantages ! Improves product qualities ! Optimizes production processes ! Long shelf-life of solutions
12 BASF Plant Science Amflora: Target Industries
Textiles
Building
13 BASF Plant Science Cationic Amflora Starch: Stabilizes AKD Dispersions
200 µm ! Sizing agent for wide range of paper and board grades ! Effective sizing requires micro-droplets (30nm-1000nm) AlkylAlkyl ! Starch as protective colloid in AKD dispersions KeteneKetene " Cationic Amflora starch as best stabilizer DimerDimer " Amflora starch allows for 50% higher AKD
14 BASF Plant Science Amflora business model
Trait Seed Crop Processing & providing production growing modification
BASF Seed Starch BASF Farmers Plant Science multiplier processor
BASF Plant Science Starch partner ! Owns potato variety ! Responsible for cultivation, ! 3rd party multiplies seed potatoes as starch production and marketing service for BASF Plant Science ! Pays to BASF Plant Science ! Delivers " Starch license seed to starch partner " Seed potatoes ! Controls Identity Preservation system
15 BASF Plant Science Preparations for market launch Amflora are finalized – only awaiting EU approval
! EU approval is expected shortly ! Market launch Amflora expected in time for cultivation in 2009 Seed multi- Plant plication variety rights Farmers EU Starch approval processors Appli- cations Customer’s demand
16 BASF Plant Science Amflora approval process in the EU
08/1996 submission to Swedish CA according to 90/220 01/2003 notification complemented according to 2001/18 02/2006 publication of EFSA opinion*: 11/2006 preparation of draft decision by Commission 12/2006 voting on decision in Regulatory Committee 07/2007 voting in Council of Ministers ??? decision by Commission
* EFSA: Amflora does not pose more risk to humans, animals, and the environment than a conventional starch potato
17 BASF Plant Science Better Varieties Through Breeding and Plant Biotechnology
Classical breeding ! Gradual improvement of varieties for e.g. yield, tuber quality, pest and disease resistance, storability ! Prevalent, Bintje
Plant biotechnology ! Quantum leaps (e.g. tailored starch, late blight resistance) ! “Prevalent+”, “Bintje+”
18 BASF Plant Science
Potatoes Resistant to Late Blight
! Most devastating potato disease ! Caused by Phytophthora infestans ! Durable resistance found in wild potato species ! 50 years of classical breeding failed to transfer this resistance into modern varieties ! BPS transferred 2 resistance genes into modern varieties
Solanum bulbocastanum
19 BASF Plant Science
Potatoes Resistant to Late Blight
ParentalParental controlcontrol TransgenicTransgenic lineline
20 BASF Plant Science Potato Projects Powered by ...
Margareta Melander Per Hofvander Tom Wetjen Ralf Weigel Christine Wandelt Timo Böhme ThankThank Matthias Nachtmann Henk Jaap Meijer you!you! Roland Kurth Ulf Schaberg Markus Frank
21