The importance of the potato dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries, where a dramatic rise in population and the resulting fall in housing and living conditions resulted in the dependence of a cheap, healthy, and high-yield potato crop. This not only fed the Irish people, but also allowed them to export the crop to England without losing their cash crop. The Irish’s diet included potato and milk, which provided the essential nutrients to survive- by 1840 almost one half of the population depended on potato in their diet. From 1845 to 1852, the Irish potato blight decimated almost one half of all acreages planted in 1845. In 1846, three quarters of the potato crop was lost. This resulted in The Great Famine, which led to starvation, disease, and emigration in Ireland. More than 1 million died and millions of Irish emigrated to North America. Due to the potato’s nutritional value and the dependence of the Irish on the potato, Ireland was ravished by disease and malnutrition. Diarrheal diseases, cholera, tuberculosis, and many more diseases rose from the nutritional downfall of the country. As the Irish emigrated to America, they also carried diseases, spreading them throughout North America. The result of the famine was a reduction in the Irish population by 20-25% and a rise in the American population by millions.
The cause of the potato blight is the Phytophthora infestans oomycete pathogen. This unique, fungus-like pathogen caused potatoes to become shrunken, mushy and inedible. The Irish ate the few potatoes that were left unaffected by the disease, leaving seed populations to shrink which resulted in the famine (Stromberg, 2013). The disease was easily carried by storms, which rapidly spread it (Sherman, 2007). However, in 2017 scientists used potato genes to create a pathogen-resistant potato that has the “same taste and texture and nutritional qualities” as conventional potatoes (Ridler, 2017). Using genetically modified potatoes reduces the use of fungicide by half, reduces bruising and black spots, and increases storage capacity. Although the company claims the potatoes are safe and the FDA has approved all aspects of the process, genetically modified foods still create controversy. Pathogens may adapt to become resistant to the potato’s defenses or new diseases can rise in its place. The ethical issues of modifying food continue to stir the public’s opinions. Modifying plants, animals, and other foods offers a solution to horrible events such as disease, famine, and other natural occurrences. New technologies can provide healthier, stronger, better food products to billions of people. However, as the use of GMOs continue, so too will the controversy surrounding the use of science and technology on food.
References:
Sherman, I.W. The Irish Potato Blight. Twelve Diseases That Changed Our World. 2007.
Ridler, Keith. EPA, FDA approve 3 types of genetically engineered potatoes. The Associated Press. 2017.
Stromberg, Joseph. Scientists Finally Pinpoint the Pathogen That Caused the Irish Potato Famine. Smithsonian. 2013.