ONTWIKKELINGSMAATSCHAPPIJ HET IDEE

Their core work

Solynta is a Dutch SME specializing in hybrid potato breeding using true potato seeds — a disruptive alternative to traditional vegetative propagation via tubers. Their core work focuses on accelerating potato breeding cycles through genomic selection and hybrid techniques, enabling faster development of disease-resistant and resource-efficient potato varieties. They contribute plant genetics and breeding expertise to larger EU consortia working on crop resilience, nutrient use efficiency, and plant disease resistance, bridging commercial seed innovation with academic research.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Solynta entered H2020 with a strong commercial focus on high-speed potato breeding (HISPOB, 2015), which they coordinated with significant funding. In subsequent years, they broadened into applied research on crop resilience — nutrient/water efficiency (SolACE, 2017) and plant disease resistance (PROTECTA, 2018). This trajectory shows a company expanding from pure breeding technology into the upstream science of why crops fail, particularly disease and resource stress.

Solynta is moving from breeding speed toward breeding for resilience — expect future work at the intersection of genomics, disease resistance, and climate adaptation in potato and related crops.

How they like to work

Solynta operates as both a project leader and a specialist contributor. They coordinated their flagship HISPOB project (EUR 2.5M) but joined larger research consortia as a partner in SolACE and PROTECTA. With 32 unique partners across 15 countries from just 3 projects, they connect broadly rather than repeatedly — typical of an SME bringing commercial breeding expertise into diverse academic-led consortia.

Despite only 3 projects, Solynta has built a wide network of 32 partners across 15 countries, reflecting the large consortium sizes of SolACE and PROTECTA. Their reach spans Western and Northern Europe with connections into Mediterranean and Eastern European agricultural research communities.

What sets them apart

Solynta is one of very few companies worldwide pursuing hybrid true potato seed technology, making them a rare commercial partner for any consortium needing applied plant genetics and breeding innovation. Unlike university labs that publish on potato genomics, Solynta translates breeding science into market-ready seed products. For consortium builders, they bring a credible SME impact story — real products reaching farmers — which strengthens exploitation plans in food security proposals.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HISPOB
  Solynta's coordinated flagship (EUR 2.5M SME Instrument Phase 2) — one of the larger SME-led potato breeding innovation projects in H2020.
• SolACE
  Large multi-partner RIA on agroecosystem efficiency covering roots, microbiome, and nutrient use — positioned Solynta within a major crop resilience research network.
• PROTECTA
  MSCA training network on oomycete resistance — connects Solynta to next-generation plant pathology researchers, directly relevant to potato late blight defense.