Solynta, a pioneer in hybrid potatoes, and Incotec, a seed enhancement firm, revealed at the International Seed Federation (ISF) congress that they had formed a partnership. The group will deliver world-class seed technology and exceptional genetics to potato farmers all around the world by joining forces.

This arrangement will allow the companies to expand their partnership and supply the finest quality hybrid true potato seeds to the market, helping them achieve their shared aim of unleashing the true potential of potatoes to address the world food and nutrition crises.

Hybrid true potato seeds offer numerous advantages to growers and other actors in the distribution chain due to their compactness, rapid scaling, availability for year-round planting, and other benefits. This is particularly important for farmers in remote areas in Africa, Asia, and Central America, where the availability of high-quality starting materials is limited.

Solynta and Incotec have been cooperating in this space since 2013 on several research projects. Their collaboration includes co-run trials and scaling up production of hybrid true potato seeds and seed enhancement techniques.

Solynta is a Netherlands-based company using hybrid potato breeding to grow a more sustainable future. The company has developed a unique portfolio of hybrid potato varieties for farmers that are dependable, productive, and highly resilient to climate change. Solynta’s hybrid true potato seeds overcome the phytosanitary and logistical challenges associated with traditional seed tubers. These true seeds provide clean and disease-free starting material to farmers, compared to conventional seed tubers, which are highly prone to disease and pests. By partnering with Incotec, Solynta will benefit from Incotec’s expertise in seed technology and ensure its hybrid true potato seeds are not only genetically successful but also provide the most advanced seed enhancements available.

“At Solynta, we believe that partnering with industry leaders like Incotec supports our mission of creating global solutions for food and nutritional insecurity. Their expertise in seed enhancement combined with our hybrid breeding technology will have a major impact on the future of potato crops around the globe,” Johan Trouw, Supply Chain Director and co-founder of Solynta, added.

Incotec is a global seed enhancement company based out of the Netherlands. Incotec has developed a package of technologies, including a new pelletization method and innovative seed priming formula, specifically tailored to fit true potato seeds. Pelleting true potato seeds helps to improve the sowability of this small and lightweight seed by creating a uniform round shape and size. Priming the seeds helps to improve germination strength and uniformity. This seed technology will allow Solynta’s true potato seeds to succeed in diverse growing environments across the globe.

“Incotec is continuously innovating and improving its product portfolio. Extending our seed enhancement technologies to true potato seeds is a significant step forward in line with our purpose of helping to create a more sustainable food-secure global future. We value the cooperation with Solynta and are thrilled to be a partner in Solynta’s revolutionary work in the potato sector,” Erik Jan Bartels, Managing Director of Incotec, mentioned.