EIB backs Solynta with €20 million to boost climate-resilient potato seed development

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €20 million ($21.8 million) venture debt financing agreement with Dutch biotechnology company Solynta to accelerate the development of disease-resistant and climate-resilient potato varieties. The financing is supported under the European Commission’s InvestEU programme and aims to improve global food security by advancing the use of true potato seeds over traditional tubers.

Solynta’s breeding platform leverages hybrid breeding technology to develop robust potato varieties that are less reliant on chemical crop protection. Unlike conventional seed tubers, true potato seeds are lightweight, non-perishable during transport and storage, and adaptable to various climates. This innovation addresses key challenges in global potato production, such as disease outbreaks—particularly late blight—and yield losses due to climate volatility.

“Climate action and adaptation are at the heart of our financing,” said EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti. “Potatoes are a food staple around the world. Ensuring they can grow in increasingly difficult climates and with higher chances of a good yield is extremely important.”

Solynta’s breeding method excludes the use of genetically modified organisms and enables rapid tailoring of varieties to local conditions. The company’s technology aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including ending hunger, reducing poverty, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

“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. “Our true potato seeds offer farmers a disease-free starting material that requires fewer chemicals and helps ensure more stable harvests.”

Klasja van de Ridder, Head of the European Commission Representation in the Netherlands, noted that the investment supports the EU’s broader strategy on sustainable agriculture. “Food security is a key element of the new Vision on Agriculture and Food. Development of more resilient potato seeds will strengthen global food security,” she said.

The EIB’s investment follows over €27 billion in financing for Dutch projects over the past decade. In 2024 alone, more than €3 billion was allocated to projects in the Netherlands through the EIB Group, which includes the European Investment Fund.

The InvestEU program is designed to mobilize public and private capital in support of EU priorities, including the European Green Deal and the digital transition. The program aims to generate at least €372 billion in additional investment from a €26.2 billion EU budget guarantee.

Solynta, based in the Netherlands, is focused on developing high-yielding, sustainable potato seeds that can be distributed globally. Its innovations are expected to reduce dependency on chemical inputs and logistical costs while improving access to quality planting material in regions vulnerable to climate and supply chain disruptions.