The hybrid potato is in the spotlight. Breeder Bejo recently announced that he was working on it. Solynta from Wageningen has been working on a hybrid variety for much longer. Hopefully in 3 years you will find it on the Dutch market. The first real harvest is promising.
Agronomist Michiel de Vries explains how the development of this special potato works and what obstacles it faces Solynta still needs to take to make it a success.
A recent report states that the yield of potatoes from seed is above expectations. Is this hectare yield comparable to common potato varieties?
'There were no high expectations. The yields were close to what the usual seed potato yield gave. What is stated in the article is the statement of KMWP director Vincent Coolbergen. It was the first time we planted hybrid plants. Our expectations were not that high, but we were able to harvest quite a few kilos of seed potatoes in the right size and sorting. The fact that this happens in a short cultivation period as seed potatoes is beyond expectation.'
On Tuesday, April 18, Bejo brought to Outside that they are also working on a hybrid potato from seed for the African market. Why is the focus for Solynta on the Netherlands?
'We focus on all important international potato markets and therefore also on the Netherlands. We want to have varieties for all markets, including the developed market. In the Netherlands, the players are good at the logistics process. That is not where our added value lies. This lies in creating varieties with properties that were not possible until recently, such as sustainable phytophthora resistance.'
Bejo mentions that a long growing season is required as a disadvantage. That is missing in Northwestern Europe. Is growing in press pots the solution for this?
'If you sow plants in a protected environment, grow them for 5 weeks and allow them to harden off, you will get a good crop that is comparable to the regular method. By sowing earlier, for example in a greenhouse, you extend the growing season at the front. In Northwestern Europe you have to deal with night frost, as we recently saw. Even adult potato plants cannot tolerate this. With the help of genetics, we think we can make progress in frost tolerance. Plants are developed through breeding that can withstand frost. In 5 to 10 years we will have taken steps in this direction.'
What is the biggest stumbling block for the hybrid potato at the moment?
'Cultivation from plants has not yet been fully developed. We have to practice and test this several times to know exactly how it will work in practice. We also have to take steps in selection in genetics before we can come up with a good competitive variety. We think we can grow a variety with added value for end users for the Dutch market.'
What do buyers say about the potato? Are new varieties developed in close collaboration with them?
'Yes, we develop varieties in collaboration with buyers and listen carefully to the people who use the potato. Quality is also important for processing the product. We include this in the breeding process from the start. Baking and cooking quality are properties we clearly focus on. This applies to all segments and types of customers. I cannot say whether we are the furthest along with a table or chip potato variety. That's a trade secret.'
When will full-fledged production of hybrid potatoes start?
'Solynta is now working on a test hybrid, testing which crosses and parents are best to ultimately make a good hybrid. This is a process involving many tests, which take place in the Netherlands and at dozens of other locations in Europe. I expect to enter the Dutch market with a competitive variety in 2020. That's the goal. You try to predict the future as best as possible, but you never know exactly what will happen.'
Now Bejo comes with the news that they have a hybrid potato. Is that sour?
'I think it's great that Bejo has come this far. They work on breeding in a different way than Solynta. The way we breed gives us the opportunity to introduce new properties very quickly. Because we can stack traits, we can make good varieties better. That's a different way than Bejo does it. That is why I expect that we can deliver something of added value for the Dutch grower. Bejo focuses more on tropical countries. We also work together in the admission process of export countries. The admission is something that could hinder a commercial breakthrough.'