New, experimental potato is a low glycemic variety that digests more slowly for diabetic diets
A potato suitable for diabetic diets is being tested for potential commercial production.
The low glycemic potato digests more slowly, thus avoiding insulin spikes in the human body. Research by Agriculture Canada suggests that food with a low glycemic index offers more sustainable weight loss as well as improved management of diabetes.
Benoit Bizimungu, Agriculture Canada’s lead potato researcher, said breeding this potato, and indeed any potato variety, is a long-term process.
This variety, AR 2012-04, has been through an extensive selection process and has been grown in research plots across the country to test its adaptability to various growing conditions.
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“It needs to have a package of good traits, and I think that’s why we took so long to identify a promising one,” said Bizimungu.
“We know that there is actually a growing industry for consumers to have food that is more nutritious and healthier … so I think it is part of meeting consumer trends.”
Parkland Seed Potatoes of Edmonton has been granted exclusive rights to evaluate the potato further and potentially commercialize it.
Kirby Sawatzky of Parkland said his company is conducting its own tests and is building a stock of basic seed. However, full-scale production is still at least two years away.
Sawatzky said the Agriculture Canada variety is easy to grow in Canada, but marketing it is a separate step that requires additional time.
AR 2012-04 has a glycemic index of 34 when served cold and a medium index of 65 when served hot. Agriculture Canada data indicates it has good boil and bake properties and good chip scores.
The potato is white with cream-coloured flesh and a small to medium tuber size. It has short dormancy and early maturity.
Terence Hochstein, executive director of Potato Growers of Alberta, said development of a low-glycemic potato is good news.
“Any time that you can provide another health benefit of eating potatoes, it’s a good thing for the industry,” he said.
“It will be very beneficial for the people that have diabetes or are very carb conscious. We’re just really excited to have another potato with a good health benefit attached to it.”
The low-glycemic potato will probably be grown primarily grown in Manitoba or British Columbia.
Most Alberta growers contract their production to companies that make chips and french fries because the price is fixed. Prices for potatoes marketed as fresh fluctuate with supply and demand.
Bizimungu said selection of this variety and others has been made more efficient in recent years through the use of near-infrared spectrometry.
“We can basically fast track and scan and determine right away the potential of new varieties,” he said.
barb.glen@producer.com
