Solynta, a Dutch company specializing in hybrid potato breeding and true potato seeds development and Buyer, a global enterprise with expertise in health care and nutrition have reached an agreement to collaborate on the commercialization and distribution of true potato seeds in Kenyan and Indian markets.
According to a press statement by Solynta, the partnership marks the entry of Bayer into the 20 million hectares global potato market, and its first collaboration with Solynta.
Furthermore, the collaboration will center around Solynta’s expert knowledge of potato breeding with the development of new robust potato varieties that will thrive in key potato growing geographies.
This innovation will allow growers to plant potatoes from true seeds rather than the traditional planting of tubers.
Growers will only need 25 grams of clean and disease-free true potato seeds per hectare to start a potato crop, compared to the 2500 kgs of perishable seed tubers previously required.
In this, Bayer will utilize its strong presence and distribution channels in the field to commercialize the varieties that are most suitable for these regions.
The new hybrid potato varieties will be distributed in the form of true seeds by Bayer to potato growers in the most remote areas of Kenya and India.
According to Solynta’s Chief Commercial Officer Joost van Regteren, this collaboration signals the beginning of an expanded commercial presence in the regions.
“We are focused on rapidly and broadly introducing true potato seeds, conducting field and commercial trials to demonstrate their effectiveness. We are thrilled to partner with Bayer for the further commercial roll-out in Kenya and India,” he stated.
