Hybrid potato innovator Solynta and seed improvement company Incotec announced last week that they had entered into a partnership agreement. By joining forces, the group will bring world-class seed technology and elite genetics to potato growers around the world.
The potato is the fourth largest agricultural crop in the world and is a vital and staple food for the world’s population.
Hybrid True Potato Seeds (TPS) offer numerous benefits for farmers and other participants in the distribution chain due to their compactness, rapid scaling, availability for year-round planting and other benefits. This is especially important for farmers in remote areas of Africa, Asia and Central America where the availability of high quality raw material is limited.
Solynta and Incotec have been collaborating in this area since 2013 through several research projects. Their collaboration includes collaborative testing and scaling up hybrid true potato seed (TPS) and seed improvement techniques.
Hybrid true potato seeds overcome the phytosanitary and logistical challenges associated with traditional seed tubers. TPS provide farmers with a clean and disease-free feedstock compared to traditional seed tubers, which are highly susceptible to diseases and pests.
Incotec has developed a package of technologies including a new granulation method and an innovative seed priming formula specifically designed for real potato seeds. Pelleting real potato seeds helps improve planting of this small, light seed by creating a uniform round shape and size. Seed dressing helps to improve the strength and uniformity of germination.
