More convincing proof of the significant advantages of Solynta’s newest potato varieties for smallholder farmers has surfaced during a comprehensive spray/no-spray study in Limuru, Kenya. This is particularly true in terms of harvested yield and decreased chemical use.

G1 seed tubers saved from the previous season were used to set up the trial at Limuru in the spring of 2024. Solynta’s disease-free genuine potato seeds were used to create these seed tubers. Alongside the popular “Shangi” potato variety in Kenya, three hybrid potato types were planted, all of which have double-stack resistances against late blight.

The non-sprayed Shangi quickly perished when late blight appeared in the field three weeks later. However, the Solynta non-GMO hybrid cultivars with double stack genetic resistances demonstrated exceptional resilience, producing more than double the 10 metric tons of potatoes per hectare typical for Kenya. Each hybrid variety and Shangi, along with the inner two rows of a four-row plot, were harvested after 100 days.

Both SOLHY017 and SOLHY016, advanced experimental hybrids, produced twice the yield of the market standard Shangi under no-spray conditions. This shows that farmers with limited access to fungicides can still achieve exceptional results.

“The results this season speak for themselves—smallholder farmers can now achieve more with less. Solynta’s hybrid potatoes offer an opportunity for farmers to increase yields, reduce input costs, and improve food security. This innovation is a vital step forward in helping farmers overcome two of the most significant challenges in potato production in Kenya: access to high-quality planting material and the devastating effects of Late Blight disease. These twin challenges have long limited yields for Kenyan farmers, but with Solynta’s hybrid varieties, farmers can now produce more resilient, disease-resistant crops, paving the way for a stronger, more sustainable agricultural sector. This is the kind of progress that will empower local farmers and build a resilient agricultural future,” Gerald Mutua, Director at CropCare Technologies in Kenya, an agri-business support service company aimed at establishing sustainable market linkages to support smallholder farmers in Kenya, mentioned.

“These outstanding results confirm that making quality starting material available to Kenyan potato growers will empower them to produce sufficient potatoes, with limited or NO need for fungicides. Not only will these new hybrids improve their livelihoods, but they will provide them with strong harvests with which to feed their communities,” Charles Miller, Director of Strategic Alliances and Development at Solynta, added.

All of Solynta’s hybrid potato varieties with genetic resistance yielded more than double the average Kenyan potato yield of 10 metric tons per hectare. One experimental variety, SOLHY016, yielded almost four times the result of the market standard Shangi, for a total of 38,9 metric tons per hectare. SOLHY017 was not far behind, with a yield of 38.6 metric tons.

Both of these varieties, SOLHY016 and SOLHY017, are currently undergoing registration with KEPHIS, the Kenyan regulatory authority, and will be commercialized once registration is completed.

Solynta’s varieties also performed well when treated with fungicide, despite not needing the treatment to survive late blight.

“Even under fully managed and sprayed conditions, our varieties outperformed the average standard yield in Kenya, with yields over 4 times the average. This indicates that Solynta’s hybrid technology can be used by all farmers, even in challenging environments and in areas under high disease pressure. We are committed to empowering farmers with solutions that improve yield, reduce dependency on chemicals, and build resilience in the face of supply uncertainties. Our mission is to support them in expanding their sustainable agriculture practices while enhancing global food security,” Miller also mentioned.

Solynta recently registered the first three of its hybrid potato varieties in Kenya. These three potato varieties are now available to growers in Kenya.

Kenyan farmers, like many others around the world, have experienced shortages of seed tubers and other challenges in obtaining high-quality materials to grow their crops. With these new varieties, a new era of plentiful, healthy potato yields has arrived. Solynta will continue its efforts to bring its hybrid true potato seed varieties to more countries in Africa and worldwide.