Solynta secures world-first registration of hybrid potato seed, setting new global standards
The seeds have a long shelf life and are available year-round.
NETHERLANDS – Solynta has achieved official registration of SOLHY019, the first hybrid potato variety grown from true seeds approved in the Netherlands, marking a historic milestone that transitions hybrid breeding from scientific ambition to commercial reality.
The Dutch Board of Plant Varieties granted formal approval and registered the diploid hybrid true potato variety SOLHY019 in the Dutch National Variety Register. This registration marks the first-ever approval of a hybrid potato variety grown from hybrid true potato seed (HTPS) in the Netherlands.
Official approval from the Dutch Variety Release Committee is widely recognized as a rigorous and trusted standard, ensuring that registered varieties meet quality and performance criteria.
“The listing represents a major step forward for the potato sector, demonstrating that hybrid potato breeding has moved from scientific ambition to commercial reality,” said Peter Poortinga, CEO of Solynta.
“We are proud to be the first to achieve official registration of a diploid hybrid true potato seed variety, and we see this as the beginning of a new era for potato breeding and cultivation.“
Unlike traditional tuber-based farming, these hybrid true potato seeds are lightweight, disease-free, and easy to transport. Farmers need only 25 grams of clean seed per hectare from Solynta, compared with 2,500 kilograms of perishable seed tubers in the current system.
As a result, this technology offers a more efficient and sustainable way to deliver quality planting material globally. The seeds have a long shelf life and are available year-round.
Furthermore, through non-GMO hybrid breeding, HTPS can be bred to retain beneficial natural traits, including disease resistance to Late Blight, thereby limiting the need for pesticide use.
“With this registration, we are not just introducing a new variety – we are opening the door to a new category of potato varieties with strong Late Blight resistance,” Poortinga added.
“This official approval is essential for international market access,” said Ard Rijlaarsdaam, Market Access and Regulatory Affairs Lead at Solynta. “Registration by the Dutch Board of Plant Varieties provides the credibility and regulatory foundation needed to introduce innovative varieties across global markets. It demonstrates that our diploid hybrid varieties meet recognized standards, enabling broader adoption worldwide.”
This milestone paves the way for future registrations of potato varieties grown from hybrid true potato seed.
Solynta aims to provide better potato varieties for growers worldwide, contributing to food security and sustainable potato cultivation across international markets.
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