Production of hybrid potato seeds in Kazakhstan discussed in the Netherlands

The Hague - The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of the Netherlands together with KazakhInvest held a meeting with the Solynta company and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Association of Potato and Vegetable Growers of Kazakhstan, the Institute of Biology and Biodiversity and the Kazakh Research Institute of Horticulture.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the production of hybrid зщефещ seeds in Kazakhstan, as well as the advantages of using them in comparison with traditional seed potatoes.

Mr. Carl Rentes presented the activities of the Company and noted that hybrid breeding technology allows combining beneficial properties in hybrid varieties much faster than with traditional breeding. Only in two years company managed to insert two genes resistant to late blight potato disease into a hybrid susceptible to it, which, with the current selection, takes more than fifteen years. The Company representative emphasized that potato seeds are easier to transport and faster to produce than traditional seed potatoes. One growing season can produce a million seeds. Plant disease risks when grown from seed are significantly less compare to seed potatoes.

The Kazakh side noted its interest in cooperation with Solynta, for the further implementation of the project, issues related to regulatory and permissive documents for seeds will be worked out. In addition, suitable region for test plantings will be determined.