European hybrid potato seed innovator Solynta has announced a partnership with South African seed potato producer RegenZ for a hybrid potatoes project in South Africa.
Justin Platt, Managing Director of RegenZ said the partnership is set to see development of Solynta’s ‘climate smart’ and disease-free genetics to farmers in the country with limited water resources and nutrition security challenges.
Solynta is using hybrid potato breeding to grow a more sustainable future. The non-GMO, disease-free potato seed delivers highly delicious and nutritious potatoes and requires fewer pesticides to produce great yield. They lead the market in resistance to disease and pests, ease of use, and production speed and scalability.
Hybrid potato technology
“We believe that introduction of Solynta’s innovative hybrid potato technology in South Africa will bring huge benefits to the potato producing farming communities. We see from Solynta field trials in the region that the technology can contribute towards a more efficient and sustainable potato production. Hybrid True Potato Seeds (HTPS) have the capacity to address food security goals in line with South African government objectives. With its unique ability to build in disease resistances, Solynta’s hybrids will deliver a predictable and rapid flow of improved products,” said Justin Platt.
“By delivering these genetics through true seeds, many other advantages, such as the provision of disease-free seed and a reduction in storage and transport costs, will be achieved. Therefore, we believe it has great value to both commercial and smallholder potato farmers to collaborate with Solynta on the formal introduction of hybrid true potato seed in South Africa,” he added.
Charles Miller, Solynta’s Commercial Director, emphasizes the global impact of the new hybrid potato varieties. “This partnership marks the shared values of our companies,” says Miller. “Like RegenZ, Solynta is committed to developing sustainable innovations that improve the quality of life. For Solynta, that means ensuring that nutritious, easy-to-grow potatoes are abundantly available to fight food insecurity. The goal of this collaboration, for Solynta, is to benefit local farmers – in South Africa and worldwide. As potato production makes up 45% of the country’s total vegetable production, exceeding 51 000 ha per year, it is clearly one of the most important vegetable crops in South Africa.”
“With Solynta’s seeds, local farmers will benefit from using the best, clean and disease-free starting material for their potato production. We look forward to working with RegenZ to develop and introduce potato cultivars that will thrive and prosper in South Africa. Acting as Solynta’s representative in the region, RegenZ is playing a critical role in navigating the commercial and regulatory challenges associated with establishing HTPS in South and Southern Africa. This includes collaborating with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development [DALRRD] and other key industry stakeholders on establishing a suitable regulatory framework for the safe introduction of HTPS into the market.”
