The NewLeaf Plus potato, developed by NatureMark, a unit of Monsanto , has been improved through plant biotechnology to resist the Colorado potato beetle and potato leafroll virus. This virus causes a condition known as net necrosis, the occurrence of brown streaks throughout the potato, resulting in decreased yields and tuber quality and in millions of dollars lost by growers and processors annually. Like the original NewLeaf potato, introduced into the market in 1995, NewLeaf Plus is also protected from the Colorado potato beetle, a devastating insect pest of potato crops. It is our goal to develop potatoes that allow growers to significantly reduce inputs while protecting the yield and quality of their crop.
Potatoes are one of the foods named.
As a result, many growers are faced with the challenge of growing potatoes with fewer insecticides while maintaining yield and quality. In the Pacific Northwest where 50 percent of all potatoes are produced, growers can reduce insecticide use up to 100 percent by growing NewLeaf Plus. Grower response to NewLeaf Plus has been enthusiastic. These potatoes offer growers an important, cost effective alternative to protect their crop and help them comply with FQPA requirements at the same time. Without additional IPM tools like NewLeaf Plus potatoes, the potential loss of current insecticides could have a devastating impact on potato yields and crop quality.