EIB Provides €20 Million to Solynta to Fund Disease‑Resistant True Potato Seed Technology

EIB Provides €20 Million to Solynta to Fund Disease‑Resistant True Potato Seed Technology

(IN BRIEF) The EIB has extended a €20 million venture debt facility to Solynta, a Dutch biotech firm specializing in true potato seeds, under the InvestEU initiative. This funding will accelerate Solynta’s hybrid breeding research, which replaces bulky, perishable tubers with lightweight, durable seeds that simplify storage and transport while bolstering global food security. Solynta’s non‑GMO breeding platform produces potato lines with strong resistance to threats like late blight and adapts swiftly to climate challenges, reducing the need for chemical crop protection. EIB Vice‑President Gelsomina Vigliotti emphasized the value of combining climate action with support for European innovators, and Solynta CEO Peter Poortinga highlighted the technology’s potential to supply farmers with disease‑free, high‑yielding seed material. The European Commission’s Klasja van de Ridder noted that this project advances EU priorities for sustainable and competitive agriculture.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 18-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide a €20 million venture debt facility to Dutch biotech innovator Solynta, aimed at accelerating the development of potato varieties that combine robust disease resistance with enhanced climate resilience. Funded under the European Commission’s InvestEU programme, this financing will underpin Solynta’s pioneering work in replacing conventional seed tubers with true potato seeds for crop establishment.

True potato seeds offer significant logistical advantages: they are lighter, less perishable, and simpler to store and transport than traditional tubers, substantially increasing the likelihood of a successful harvest and strengthening food security on a global scale. The EIB’s backing takes the form of venture debt, designed to bolster Solynta’s hybrid breeding research without relying on genetically modified organisms.

“Investing in climate adaptation and innovative European companies sits at the core of our mission,” commented EIB Vice‑President Gelsomina Vigliotti. “Solynta’s approach not only supports resilient potato production but also promotes sustainable growth across the agricultural sector.”

By leveraging its proven hybrid breeding platform, Solynta has developed potato lines that demand fewer crop protection treatments while delivering resistance to pathogens such as late blight. This agility in tailoring traits—ranging from disease resistance to environmental tolerance—aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including zero hunger and responsible production.

“With the EIB’s support, we can scale our true seed propagation technology to meet rising demand for disease‑free, high‑yielding potato varieties,” said Solynta CEO Peter Poortinga. “Our seed‑based approach reduces reliance on chemicals and helps farmers worldwide achieve more reliable harvests, particularly in regions facing climate stress.”

Echoing this sentiment, Klasja van de Ridder, Head of the European Commission Representation in the Netherlands, added: “Strengthening food security through resilient crop development is central to the Commission’s Vision on Agriculture and Food. InvestEU’s support for Solynta underlines our commitment to long‑term competitiveness and sustainability in farming.”

Background Information:

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. The Netherlands owns a 5,2% share of the EIB. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals and national priorities. More than 90% of its activity is in Europe. Over the last ten years, the EIB has made available more than €27 billion in financing for Dutch projects in various sectors, including research & development, sustainable mobility, drinking water, healthcare and SMEs. In 2024 the EIB Group, which also includes the EIB’s subsidiary, the European Investment Fund (EIF), made available more than €3 billion for Dutch projects.

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments previously available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is deployed through implementing partners who will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

Solynta is a seed company and pioneer in the development of true potato seeds. The company is driven by the mission to improve food security and sustainability through innovative breeding technologies. With a focus on delivering clean, high-quality seeds that enable farmers worldwide to achieve both higher yields and resilience, Solynta is at the forefront of a new agricultural revolution See.www.solynta.com

Media Contact:

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SOURCE: European Investment Bank