CRISPS Project (NRP 84): More Resistant Potatoes Through New Breeding Techniques (Agroscope)
Progression of the Project
The CRISPS project started in May 2025. In December 2025, Agroscope submitted an application to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) to conduct a field trial at the Protected Site with a cisgenic potato line. The application was approved on 1 May 2026. This field trial also serves as preparation for further releases, with this line being an essential control. A second release application is expected to be submitted soon for new, genome-edited potato lines developed in the CRISPS project.
Planned Period of Release
2026-2030
Further information
Index
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Field Trial with Cisgenic Potatoes: Sustainable Disease Resistance Sought
Zurich-Reckenholz, 05.05.2026 — Agroscope is testing the use of new breeding technologies by cultivating a late blight-resistant potato cultivar in the field. Authorised by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the field study serves as a basis for researching potato varieties containing no foreign DNA. These so called ‘cisgenic’ varieties reduce the need for plant-protection products and can better withstand extreme weather conditions.
Protected Site - Site for Field Trials of Genetically Modified Plants
Agroscope is operating a protected field site at the location Reckenholz (Zurich) to enable field experiments with genetically modified plants in Switzerland. The aim of those experiments is to identify the potential and the limitations of green gene technology.
Breeding Research
The use of disease-resistant varieties is a sustainable approach for reducing the use of plant-protection products in agriculture. Agroscope provides breeders with the basic requirements of efficient resistance breeding.