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.