Fungus-Free Shepherds Pie

Ever wonder why the United States has such a rich Irish heritage? It's because of a fungus. Phytophthora infestans is an organism responsible for causing "late blight" in potato crops, rendering them worthless and inedible. There was an epidemic of late blight among the Irish potato crop in the mid 1800s, which plunged the nation into "The Great Famine". Millions of Irish natives emigrated to the United States where their descendants today live their lives as cops and firemen (just kidding).




[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="325" caption="Late blight of the potato plant"][/caption]

In present day Europe there is a controversy over genetically modified crops. In some cases these crops can be detrimental to the surrounding environment, which is why money is usually needed to extensively test them before they are produced on a large scale. The latest genetically modified crop receiving attention is the "blight resistant potato". Even though we are a long way from the 19th century, blight continues to be a problem for potatoes in Ireland. However trials are needed to study the affects of the genetically modified potatoes on the surrounding soil, and the organisms that it contains. A potato crop that throws off the natural symbiotic relationships that exist in the soil will be as useful as a potato crop that is struck with late blight. While the idea of testing the potatoes first seems noble, it is important to remember that all of Europe is in financial chaos. One source described using taxpayer money to test the potatoes as "economic suicide."