Solynta and RegenZ partner to supply hybrid potatoes to South Africa

South African seed potato producer RegenZ and European hybrid potato seed producer Solynta have announced a collaboration to bring true hybrid potatoes to the South African farming community.

The companies will collaborate on further trials and join forces to facilitate the adoption of ‘climate-smart’ and disease-free Solynta genetics by South African farmers. With limited water resources, reduced arable land and additional chemical restrictions, Solynta True Hybrid Potato seed offers the best starting material for good yields and healthy potatoes.

″We believe the introduction of Solynta’s innovative hybrid potato technology in South Africa will be of enormous benefit to potato farming communities,″ says Justin Platt, Managing Director of RegenZ.

″We can see from Solynta’s field trials in the region that the technology can contribute to more efficient and sustainable potato production. True Hybrid Potato Seeds (HTPS) are capable of addressing food security objectives in line with the South African government’s objectives. With their unique ability to create disease resistance, Solynta hybrids will provide a predictable and rapid flow of improved products.

″Delivering these genetics through true seed will have many other benefits, such as providing disease-free seed and reducing storage and transportation costs. Therefore, we believe it is very important for both commercial and small-scale potato farmers to partner with Solynta to officially introduce hybrid seed potatoes in South Africa.″

Charles Miller, commercial director of Solynta, emphasizes the global impact of new hybrid potato varieties.

″This partnership represents 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, this means ensuring that nutritious and easy-to-grow potatoes are available in large quantities to combat food insecurity.″

″The new Solynta hybrid true potato varieties have been developed to provide an answer to the food security challenges facing the world,″ he adds. ″Our non-GMO, disease-free seed potatoes produce very tasty and nutritious potatoes and require fewer pesticides to produce large yields.″

He says of the partnership with RegenZ: ″The goal of this collaboration for Solynta is to benefit local farmers – in South Africa and around the world. With potato production accounting for 45% of the country’s total vegetable production, exceeding 51,000 hectares per year, it is one of the most important vegetable crops in South Africa.

″With Solynta seed, local farmers benefit from using better, cleaner and disease-free source material for potato production. We look forward to working with RegenZ to develop and introduce potato varieties that will thrive and thrive in South Africa. Acting as Solynta’s representative in the region, RegenZ plays an important role in addressing the commercial and regulatory challenges associated with establishing HTPS in South and Southern Africa.

″This includes cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development [DALRRD] and other key industry stakeholders to create an appropriate regulatory framework for the safe introduction of HTPS to the market.″

RegenZ, one of South Africa’s leading producers of potato seed tubers, aims to become a global leader in transforming human health and nutrition through the widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture practices; and the identification, application and commercialization of sustainable and regenerative innovations in crop technology. To learn more about RegenZ, visit regenz.co.za.

Solynta is a hybrid potato innovator based in the Netherlands. Solynta uses hybrid potato breeding for a more sustainable future. Genuine Solynta potato seeds combine many years of agricultural experience with the latest hybrid breeding technologies. They lead the market in terms of disease and pest resistance, ease of use, production speed and scalability. To learn more about their mission to unlock the true potential of potatoes, visit solynta.com.