Solynta, the Dutch innovator based in Wageningen, has entered a new growth phase following a majority investment from the international German family business EW Group, a leader in animal and plant genetics. The deal, announced in late January, marks a pivotal transition for the company as it moves from research and development to the large-scale international commercialization of its hybrid true potato seeds. For Oost NL, the regional development agency that had supported Solynta for years through the Innovation and Energy Fund Gelderland, the sale of its stake represents the successful culmination of its mission: providing early-stage, patient capital to high-impact innovators and recycling funds back into the regional economy.
Solynta’s breakthrough lies in replacing traditional seed potatoes (tubers) with true botanical seeds, a fundamental shift in potato cultivation. As co-founder Hein Kruyt explains, conventional methods involve planting “a copy of a copy,” leading to the accumulation of diseases in seed tubers and necessitating up to 18 pesticide sprays per season in the Netherlands. In contrast, true seeds are disease-free, require just 25 grams to plant a hectare (versus 2,500 kilos of tubers), and allow for rapid breeding of resilient traits like drought and disease resistance. This system is designed to work with nature, providing smallholder farmers in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia with reliable yields even under challenging conditions. After years of complex research—including evaluating over four million plants—and with the patient backing of investors like Oost NL, Solynta’s technology is now proven. With EW Group’s deep genetics expertise and long-term investment horizon, the company is poised to scale its solution to address global food security challenges.
