Poland’s: The scandal surrounding the stress-resistant potato. This is what KPO money was used for.
The "stressed potato" scandal erupted in connection with subsidies paid under the National Recovery Plan.

The project in question was "A Laboratory for Breeding Potatoes Tolerant to Environmental Stresses in Various Farming Systems, Including Organic Farming." Contrary to appearances, this isn’t a waste of money, but rather a commitment to food security.
This is all thanks to the project entitled "Laboratory for breeding potatoes tolerant to environmental stresses in various farming systems, including organic farming", the applicant of which was the Institute of Plant Breeding and Acclimatization of the National Research Institute, for which the amount of funding amounts to PLN 4.8 million.
Potato research in modern conditions
In an interview with TVP Info, IHAR PIB Director Dr. Michał Rokicki explains exactly what this is all about and what the KPO funds are to be allocated to.
"We’ve been awarded funding to build modern laboratories. One such facility is the Jadwisin branch, which primarily focuses on potato research. The nearly five million złoty awarded to us under the National Potato Research Programme (KPO) for this project is primarily intended to build a modern greenhouse for potato research, as well as modernize the laboratories where research on potato quality and stresses such as high temperatures and drought is conducted, " Rokicki explains.
The greenhouse will be equipped with modern equipment that will allow for the simulation of various conditions. " Thanks to the camera system, it will be possible to plan the experiment down to a fraction of a second, including humidity, fertilizers, photoperiod, and light levels. All these characteristics that occur naturally, " adds the IHAR PIB employee.
The Farmer.pl portal noted that expert Aleksandra Stęplowska was involved in defending the IHAR PIB application. " It makes sense to allocate KPO money for (this - editor’s note) projects. Potatoes are a staple crop worldwide, and Poland is one of the world’s largest producers and research centers in this field. And some people were more outraged than solariums and yachts . Come on, people!" she wrote on X.
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