Solynta, a hybrid potato breeding technology business from the Netherlands, and FreshCrop Limited, Kenya’s largest producer of seed tubers, have inked an agreement to work on the development of hybrid true potato innovation in Kenya.

The companies will collaborate closely to promote the future release of high-quality hybrid potato seed tubers made from hybrid true potato seeds. The collaboration intends to alleviate the region’s scarcity of clean starting material, allowing growers to profit from disease-free seed tubers. Farmers may grow potatoes with certain favorable features and optimize their output significantly with seed tubers generated from Solynta’s non-GMO breeding process.

FreshCrop is committed to providing local farmers with clean, high-quality seed tubers that will give plentiful yields while increasing living standards across Kenya.

“There is a growing demand for clean starting material in the Kenyan potato market. Existing potato diseases diminish yield and affect the overall potato quality considerably. We are continuously looking for new ways to provide our customers with solutions to their problems. We believe Solynta’s hybrid technology and true seeds are the type of innovation needed in our industry. We are currently working very closely with Solynta to ensure FreshCrop brings the most innovative and adapted products to its customers in the Kenyan market,” Chris Gasperi, FreshCrop MD, mentioned.

According to Charles Miller, Solynta’s Director of Business Development, the cooperation shows the two organizations’ common ideals.

“Just like FreshCrop, Solynta’s focus is on supporting the potato farming communities and ensuring that good nutritious food is available to the world’s population. Solynta also aims to revolutionize the potato value chain, from seed to consumption, by unlocking its true potential. We strongly believe in empowering local farming communities by providing clean high quality starting material that is adapted to local growing conditions. We believe we can add value to local farmers with the introduction of specific genetic traits that are tailored to the Kenyan climate and soil,” Miller declared.

Gasperi added that with the innovative technology of Solynta, potato varieties can be developed and improved in a fast and targeted way.

“This non-GMO technology will allow potatoes to continue to grow as a cash crop, even in changing climate conditions. With these high-quality seeds, the livelihood of local farmers can be improved and nutritional security will increase. It is clear to us that these new hybrid potatoes can offer great advantages. In addition, we have the production and distribution infrastructure in place to facilitate easy and fast distribution of clean starting material to the rural communities of Kenya. This way, all farmers can benefit, even in the most remote areas,” he concluded.

The collaboration will also have a favorable impact on the Kenyan potato value chain. FreshCrop will no longer be dependent on existing potato genetics and will always have access to new, robust potato varieties from hybrid true potato seed with a consistent flow of new and improved Solynta genetics at the front end of the value chain. Solynta’s non-GMO technology enables the rapid production of new potato varieties with specialized features to address agricultural concerns such as climate change, pests and diseases, and governmental chemical usage limitations. The local potato supply chain may be made more efficient, sustainable, and flexible by connecting the Solynta revolutionary seed technology with the FreshCrops distribution network.