Wageningen, The Netherlands
January 26, 2026
- Dutch hybrid potato breeder complements the strategic expansion of German family holding company EW GROUP in plant breeding.
- EW Group acquires majority stake in Solynta.
Solynta, frontrunner in hybrid potato breeding, today announced a major growth funding raise, including the acquisition by EW Group of a majority stake in the company. This funding capital will accelerate Solynta’s mission: to double the global potato yield, with half the use of crop protection and with less land use, reshaping the future of the world’s third-largest food crop.
The parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the acquisition.
The German holding company EW Group has acquired a majority stake in the company, strengthening its commitment to innovative breeding technologies. The proceeds from this funding round will enable Solynta to accelerate its growth roadmap, further advance its hybrid potato breeding platform to increase breeding speed and variety development and scale the commercial adoption of its technology (from tuber use to use of true potato seeds) globally.
“We are thrilled to have the significant support of one of the leading investors in the breeding sector, the EW Group.” said, Peter Poortinga, Chief Executive Officer of Solynta. “Our innovative technology addresses critical agricultural challenges, offering a sustainable solution for potato growers worldwide. With this funding we will continue to accelerate the global adoption of Hybrid True Potato Seeds, improving food security and supporting sustainable farming practices worldwide.”
“Solynta was founded to become a transformative agricultural technology company, playing a critical role in addressing global food security and sustainability challenges,” said Hein Kruyt, Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Solynta. “We are excited to continue driving innovation across the potato value chain and to transform potato breeding on a global scale.”
Potatoes are one of the world’s most vital crops, providing essential nutrition and forming a cornerstone of food security globally. Yet, despite their importance, potato farming faces significant challenges. Traditional potato breeding methods are slow and farmers often rely on bulky, perishable seed tubers that are prone to disease. As climate change disrupts agricultural productivity, the need for more resilient potato varieties has never been more urgent.
Background Information:
About Solynta
Solynta is a Dutch-based seed company, founded in 2007, and frontrunner in the development of hybrid true potato seeds. The company is driven by the mission to improve food security by delivering innovative new resilient potato varieties. These varieties are produced through its hybrid breeding technology platform. Solynta gives potato growers worldwide access to disease-free starting material. Solynta is at the forefront of a new agricultural revolution. See: www.solynta.com
About EW-GROUP:
EW GROUP is a global family holding company with more than 300 subsidiaries operating in the life sciences sector. The companies focus on research and innovation-oriented business areas at the beginning of the value chains in the fields of genetics, health and diagnostics. The group operates in over 50 countries and employs more than 28,000 people. www.ew.group/en
Topics
Species
