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A new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded project to investigate gene editing in potatoes, named ‘TuberGene,’ has been unveiled. Led by R&D company B-hive Innovations, the new research project is funded as part of UKRI’s ‘National Engineering Biology’ programme and aims to harness the power of gene editing to address challenges such as drought, to secure a sustainable future for the potato industry. UKRI is the UK government’s national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK. The UK potato sector – which produces around 5 million tonnes of potatoes annually – faces various hurdles, including producing a significant number of potatoes that don’t meet commercial specifications. Additionally, changing consumer preferences have caused fresh potato sales to gradually decline, as people opt for quicker-cooking alternatives like rice and pasta. New legislation permits the commercial development of gene edited crops – TuberGene researchers will focus on two key goals: reducing bruising-related discoloration and making potatoes quicker to cook. The improvements aim to enhance potato quality, reduce food waste and meet evolving consumer needs. Andy Gill, general manager of B-hive Innovations, said: "The UK potato industry is facing significant challenges, and it's crucial that we find innovative solutions to ensure its long-term viability. This project represents a major step forward in our efforts to address issues such as bruising-related losses and changing consumer preferences." Rob Hancock, research scientist at the James Hutton Institute (part of the scientific team delivering the research), commented: "Gene editing and other precision breeding technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to rapidly enhance the traits of potatoes, meeting the need to quickly respond to the changing preferences of consumers. By targeting specific genes responsible for traits like bruising susceptibility and cooking times, we can create varieties that meet the needs of both growers and consumers." Barbara Correia, principal research scientist at B-hive, added: “This project leverages the bioinformatics expertise in our business and the genome sequencing allows us to build a pipeline to address other issues in potato farming, such as disease resistance, as we move towards the creation of a Super Spud. It also means that we can apply our skills more easily to other crops, thereby helping more of the UK’s fresh produce sector and safeguarding global food security.”