Potatoes that are genetically modified to resist nematodes are ready to use. Nematodes are parasites that cause huge crop losses – about US$125 billion a year – or enough to provide for 50 million people in Africa. Already accepted in Bolivia, Peru, India and China, nematode-resistant potatoes could boost potato harvests worldwide. People just need to be reassured that they are completely safe, both as food and for the environment. Breeding nematode resistance in potatoes by conventional methods takes a long time – up to fifty years. Now, the gene technology makes it possible very quickly. So, the technology has a huge potential for crops that are important for reducing poverty but are neglected by profit-oriented plant breeders.