Solynta secures US$23M EIB support to advance climate-resilient potato seeds

NETHERLANDS – Dutch biotechnology company Solynta has received a €20 million (US$23.4 million) loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to further its development of potato seeds that resist disease and cope with changing weather patterns.

This financial support will help Solynta move forward with its research and offer farmers a reliable and more sustainable way to grow potatoes using true seeds instead of traditional tubers.

The EIB loan is backed by the European Commission’s InvestEU programme. This gives Solynta both financial room and technical support to scale its efforts.

“Climate action and adaptation are at the heart of our financing, as is the successful scaling up of innovative European companies so that they grow and thrive. The Solynta operation is a win-win in that sense,” said EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti.

“Potatoes are a food staple around the world. Making sure that they can grow in increasingly difficult climates and with higher chances of a good yield is extremely important.”

Unlike tubers, true potato seeds are light, easy to store, and don’t spoil quickly. These traits make them ideal for farmers in remote or resource-constrained areas. They also reduce transport and storage costs.

Through hybrid breeding, Solynta has developed strong varieties that need fewer chemical inputs and resist late blight, a destructive fungal disease that ruins harvests. The seeds are non-GMO and can be adapted quickly to meet specific farming needs.

Meeting global needs with stronger seeds

“With this significant contribution from the EIB, we are well positioned to meet growing demand for new, robust potato varieties,” said Solynta CEO Peter Poortinga.

“Potato growers around the world need access to disease-free starting material with strong resistance against diseases like late blight. With our new potato varieties, propagated via true seeds instead of the traditional tubers, we bring new varieties to the market that require fewer chemicals for crop protection and help improve global food security, particularly for local communities.”

The European Commission has also shown firm support for the project through the InvestEU programme.

“Food security is a key element of the new Vision on Agriculture and Food of the European Commission,” said Klasja van de Ridder, Head of the Commission’s Representation in the Netherlands.

“The loss of yield due to climate change is a threat to the EU and the rest of world. 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 and welcomes the cooperation with Solynta and the EIB.”

Part of a bigger picture

This move also fits into a wider effort by the EIB and InvestEU to strengthen agricultural systems across Europe and beyond.

Over the last decade, the EIB has financed more than €27 billion in Dutch projects, including research, clean transport, water supply, healthcare, and support for small businesses.

Solynta’s work adds to this by focusing on one of the world’s most important food crops. The company aims to supply seeds that allow farmers, especially in vulnerable regions, to produce more food with fewer inputs. This will help reduce poverty and hunger while supporting better farming practices.

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