Hybrid marriage between the CIP and HZPC seeds opportunities in Kenya
Thiago Mendes and Harmen den Braber share a dream; to make Kenyan farmers happy with hybrid potatoes that are valued by the market. They’re proud to talk about One-to-One, their unique public private partnership between the International Potato Center and Royal HZPC Group, as well as the exciting new journey they’re embarking on together.
‘Recently, I was talking to some farmers near Mount Kenya. They begged me to help them get seed potatoes, as everything was sold out.’ This is something Harmen hears all too often, and highlights the need for the project he’s working on with Thiago in Kenya.
Sugarcane and potatoes quite similar in terms of breeding
Seven years ago, Thiago Mendes (41) joined the International Potato Center (CIP), a publicly funded institution whose work includes research and development for agricultural productivity. Before hearing about the position in Africa, he worked on sugarcane breeding, the crop with the highest production volume in the world. Thiago: ‘Although potatoes and sugarcane are two completely different crops, they’re quite similar when it comes to breeding. In Africa, I now lead the CIP’s breeding strategy for sweet potatoes and normal potatoes.’
‘A successful collaboration with HZPC in Vietnam paved the way for where we are now with diploid breeding in Africa. Building this trust-based relationship made our partnership possible,’ says Thiago. The partnership he’s referring to is with HZPC’s Harmen den Braber.
Touring from Friesland to Kenya
‘I joined HZPC a year and a half ago,’ says Harmen (31). ‘Previously, I worked at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), but I wanted to do more hands-on work and be outdoors more; in other words, less time behind a computer and fewer meetings.’
‘At a certain point, I went on a visit to HZPC with some colleagues from WUR, where the hybrid breeding programme leader Ad Vrolijk gave a presentation. After it ended, I spoke with him about their project in Africa. which is how I found out they were looking for someone in Kenya. Since I’d already spent time in Uganda, I had some experience with the continent, so things started to fall into place within a few months.’
‘This is unique for a private company like HZPC.’
Unique public-private partnership for Africa
Now, in 2024, Harmen and Thiago are embarking on a new adventure on behalf of the CIP and HZPC. It’s a special collaboration between a public and private entity, and as far as Thiago knows, it’s a first for the CIP. ‘We’re going to establish joint inbred lines, something we’ve been struggling with for years. We’ll also be sharing a lot more knowledge, which is unique for a private company like HZPC.’
Both Harmen and Thiago are excited about this next step. Without HZPC’s input, creating inbred lines would take much longer, even though the CIP has plenty of genetic material that’s well-suited to Kenyan conditions and tropical highlands. Harmen: ‘We want to replicate several processes that usually happen in Metslawier here in a greenhouse. The inbred lines we’re developing will be the parents of new hybrid potato varieties. We’re combining the local traits of the CIP’s material with the qualities and disease resistance of HZPC.’
Four times as many hybrids already
The HZPC and CIP partnership in Kenya is now three years in. Harmen: ‘When I first started in Kenya, we had relatively few hybrids in the field. 18 months later, and we’re able to test four times as many hybrids in a standardised way. We’ve also investing in small-scale mechanisation because most things here are still done by hand. We’ve made good progress in data collection too, especially on cooking and baking quality, sprouting, and storability.’
Ultimately, the goal of this partnership is to register Kenya’s first hybrid potato variety by 2025. Harmen: ‘That variety is already in the field, but we’re still working on improving it. That’s the beauty of hybrid breeding. Another advantage is that you can multiply a variety faster because you can produce a lot of seed in a short time. We expect to need fewer propagation cycles, which will also reduce the buildup of diseases in seed potatoes.’
Lots of diseases, poor yields
The process starts with creating new crosses, which in turn lead to seed production. These seeds grow into seedlings that are then planted to produce minitubers which undergo an initial screening. This is to assess the varieties on how well they perform under the often challenging conditions in Kenya. Then the selected varieties are replanted for further evaluation. Thiago: ‘One of the advantages in Kenya is that we have two growing seasons here, so we can collect twice as much data. Ultimately, we only select what works well here.’
As is the case with modern tetraploid breeding, they already know at the planting stage which varieties are resistant in diploid (hybrid) breeding. Thiago: ‘Robert Graveland [Director of HZPC Research] always says, “Breeding is all about speed and control.” The hybrid breeding strategy boosts both these factors.’
The need for hybrid varieties is greatest in the areas Thiago mentions. There are lots of diseases, and yields are poor. Harmen: ‘Phytophthora is the primary disease causing problems, and results in farmers spraying intensively. This creates issues from environmental, economic, and health perspectives. Seed potato prices are also very high, and clean seed potatoes are scarce. Hybrid varieties will hopefully alleviate this situation.
‘This test-tube is enough for one hectare of seed potatoes.’
Test tube with potato seeds
‘This is enough for one hectare.’ Harmen shows a test tube filled with potato seeds. ‘At the moment, Kenyan farmers have to travel hundreds of miles without modern logistical support to obtain these quantities. So even if we only take into account logistics, there is potential for significant progress.
Seedlings are like babies
The potential of hybrid seed potatoes for Kenyan farmers is clear, but how can they make sure that hybrid varieties will actually be adopted? Thiago: ‘Farmers are unlikely to work with seeds themselves, as it requires a lot of effort and seedlings are like babies. Working with tubers is much easier. If it doesn’t rain for two weeks, it’s no problem, but with seedlings, you have to start all over unless you have a good irrigation system.’ Colleague Samuel Gikonyo is well aware of this. He knows Kenyan farmers well, is also a grower, and is involved in introducing hybrid varieties (see box).
More investments in potato breeding
In Kenya, potatoes are still seen as a crop driven by the private sector. Much more public funding is invested in developing maize and wheat, and the lobbying is more intense. Even so, the demand for potatoes is increasing. which is why Thiago is also pleased with HZPC’s investments. ‘I don’t know any other company working in the same volumes as HZPC.’
Ultimately, Thiago and Harmen aim to develop hybrids that the market will embrace and that will bring a smile to farmers’ faces. The new partnership between the CIP and HZPC has brought this goal much closer.
Cleaner hybrid seed potatoes game-changer for Kenyan farmers
The demand for potatoes in Kenya is growing rapidly However, many of the more than 1 million farmers in the country are struggling with plant diseases, logistical challenges, and a severe shortage of good seed material. Together with Harmen and Thiago, Samuel Gikonyo is working on the introduction of hybrid varieties.
‘Only 5% of farmers have access to certified seed potatoes. Farmers often reuse part of their harvest to plant the next season or use potatoes from their neighbours,’ says Samuel Gikonyo, who knows Kenya's potato market inside out and what has been tried in the past to improve the situation.
Attempts to import seed potatoes
The potato variety Shangi dominates the Kenyan market. ‘But Shangi and other varieties are highly susceptible to diseases.’ There have been previous attempts to import seed potatoes, but current regulations make it very difficult. ‘It turned out that other diseases, not naturally present here, were introduced into our country.
’Before joining HZPC, Samuel worked as the programme manager for East Africa at the Syngenta Foundation. Now, he’s working on plans to introduce hybrid varieties. ‘We’re currently conducting trials with several vegetable growers who have the experience and facilities to grow from seeds. Farmers can then purchase either seedlings or tubers, in the manner they’re used to, but much closer to home. In addition, we’re arranging training sessions for farmers so they can eventually work with seedlings themselves.’
Hybrid seed potatoes more resistant to Phytophthora
Samuel says hybrid varieties are a potential game changer for Kenyan farmers. ‘Instead of needing 2,500 kilograms of seed potatoes, we will soon need only 25 grams of hybrid seeds for the same area of land. Our priority when selecting new hybrids is early-maturing varieties with high yields. Another advantage is that farmers will save on expensive crop protection products because HZPC hybrids are more resistant to Phytophthora.’
In Kenya, potatoes are one of the most widely cultivated food crops and a vital source of income. Samuel’s dream is that all farmers, including those in hilly regions and lowlands, will be able to grow better-performing potatoes. ‘I feel immensely privileged to be able to play a role in this.’
