Key Takeaways:
- The European Investment Bank (EIB) is supporting Solynta with €20 million in venture debt to boost research on climate-resilient potato varieties.
- Funding will accelerate the development and global deployment of true potato seeds (TPS), a sustainable alternative to traditional tuber-based cultivation.
- The financing is backed by the European Commission’s InvestEU programme, targeting long-term agri-food resilience.
- Solynta’s non-GMO hybrid breeding technology reduces the need for chemical inputs and enhances disease resistance.
- The initiative aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals and supports European food security strategy.
Solynta Receives EIB Backing to Scale True Potato Seed Innovation
Dutch biotechnology firm Solynta has secured €20 million in venture debt financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to fast-track the development of potato varieties adapted to climate challenges and disease resistance. The funds, supported under the InvestEU programme by the European Commission, will be used to further Solynta’s research and commercialization of true potato seeds (TPS)—a game-changing alternative to bulky, perishable tubers.
Unlike tubers, TPS are lightweight, non-perishable, and easy to store and transport across seasons and geographies, significantly improving harvest stability and global food security. The approach promises particular benefit to smallholder farmers in regions vulnerable to crop loss due to disease or shifting climate conditions.
Solynta’s Non-GMO Breeding Technology Gains Institutional Support
Solynta’s innovative breeding process, which uses hybrid breeding techniques without genetically modified organisms (GMOs), enables the rapid development of potato varieties with targeted traits such as resistance to late blight, a major fungal disease, and improved tolerance to extreme weather.
“Potatoes are a food staple around the world. Making sure they can grow in increasingly difficult climates and with higher chances of a good yield is extremely important,” said Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice-President at the EIB. “The Solynta operation is a win-win for innovation and sustainability.”
Solynta CEO Peter Poortinga highlighted the market relevance of their offering: “With our new potato varieties, propagated via true seeds, we bring new options to farmers that require fewer chemicals and support global food security, especially in underserved communities.”
European Commission Highlights Link to Strategic Agri-Food Goals
The European Commission emphasized the strategic importance of Solynta’s work within the broader EU agricultural agenda. Klasja van de Ridder, Head of the EC Representation in the Netherlands, noted: “Development of more resilient potato seeds will strengthen global food security. The Commission supports this initiative under InvestEU, as it contributes to the EU’s priority for long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the farming sector.”
Through its scalable, sustainable model, Solynta contributes directly to several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including those focused on ending hunger, reducing poverty, and promoting sustainable food systems.
Next Steps for Solynta
With the EIB’s support, Solynta is positioned to meet growing global demand for disease-resistant, climate-resilient potato varieties. The venture debt financing will enable the company to accelerate breeding programs, expand access to TPS technology in developing regions, and further reduce reliance on chemical crop protection products.
Solynta
Solynta applies hybrid potato breeding to support sustainable agriculture. By producing true potato seeds, the company enables a more efficient and scalable way to grow potatoes.
Their hybrid technology aims to improve global food and nutritional security, offering a potential reduction in input materials and contributing to resilience in agriculture. Solynta collaborates globally to expand adoption of hybrid potatoes.
