The company that plans to commercialize an apple variety genetically modified to resist browning has received an award for its contribution to Canada’s biotechnology industry.
Okanagan Specialty Fruits of Summerland, B.C., developers of the Arctic apple that has yet to be approved in Canada, is the recipient of a Gold Leaf award from BioteCanada.
Company president Neal Carter said he was surprised but pleased to win the “early stage agriculture” award from the biotechnology group.
“It’s quite nice to have a little recognition for what we’re doing,” he said. “We’re taking on a pretty big task here.”
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GM crops are generally developed by large companies, who then undertake the approval process toward commercialization.
Okanagan Specialty Fruits is a small company seeking to get approval for its GM apple in the United States and Canada.
That path has included objections to its release from some within the tree fruit industry and from those who oppose genetic modification in general.
However, Carter said he expects the variety will be deregulated by the end of 2013, meaning the Arctic apple will be treated like any other apple cultivar.
“It means they are released, (growers) are free to plant them, breed them, grow them, sell the fruit, the whole deal … and use them in any application that apples currently are used in,” Carter said.
The U.S. is likely to open its second comment period on the GM apple next month, he added, which means the variety could potentially be deregulated and approved for commercialization later this year.
“We have a lot of interest, a lot of people who are waiting for approval so they can plant,” Carter said.
“Right now one of our biggest undertakings is to prepare trees and have trees ready for this.”
Small amounts of the apple variety would be available by 2014-15 and significant quantities by 2016 if deregulation occurs as Carter hopes.
