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Plants for use as renewable resources |
Potatoes are not just an important food, but also a key supplier of raw materials for industrial starch production. Some 650,000 metric tons of starch is processed in Germany every year for technological use in, for example, the paper, textile and adhesives industries. In normal potatoes, starch comprises the two components amylopectin and amylose. Both are polymers made up of glucose molecules, which however differ distinctly in their physicochemical properties. Amylopectin acts as a thickening agent; amylose, in contrast, is a gelling agent. However, in many technical applications only amylopectin is required. A separation of amylopectin and amylose is possible in principle, but requires a large amount of energy and is uneconomical. Up to now the gelling action of amylose has therefore been reduced by modifying it chemically before application. This, in turn, involves an elevated consumption of energy and water.
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Potato starch for industry
With the aid of plant biotechnology scientists at BASF Plant Science have developed a potato whose starch comprises nearly exclusively amylopectin. To achieve this, the scientists switched off the gene which is responsible for the synthesis of the undesired amylose. This was achieved by application of the so-called “anti-sense technology” in which a copy of the gene as mirror image is integrated in the potato’s genetic information. The result is Amflora, the starch potato that only contains amylopectin and as renewable raw material contributes to sparing material, energy and money.
Pure amylopectin potato starch makes a very uniform surface structure and concomitantly a high viscosity and stability possible. There are application possibilities of this innovative starch in the paper, adhesives, textile, construction and cosmetic industries:
- Amflora starch gives printing paper gloss, ensures that it accepts the printer's ink more readily, and improves its quality.
- Amflora starch makes packaging air-permeable. This allows more rapid and less dusty filling of flour, sugar and cement sacks.
- Amflora starch keeps adhesives fluid for longer periods so that they can be better processed.
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Cultivation, processing, and safety
From seed production up to starch production Amflora is only planted in a closed networked system. It will be exclusively grown under contract. This means that the seed-potatoes are directly delivered to the farmers, who plants them separately from conventional potatoes. Amflora potatoes will be separately harvested and stored before they are processed in the starch factory. Thus, every single starch tuber will only be used where they benefit human beings, i.e. in energy-saving starch production.
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) confirmed in February 2006 that “Amflora does not represent any more risks for people, animals and the environment than conventional potatoes”. Amflora starch will be exclusively used in technical applications. Since potatoes do not have any naturally occurring, wild relatives in Europe and in addition reproduce via their tubers and not via pollen, it is extremely unlikely that Amflora potatoes would outbreed with other plants in the field.
BASF Plant Science plans to begin commercial cultivation as from the 2008 season.
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For further information on innovative subjects please see:
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