Potato Licensing

There are over 120 recognised Solanum species, many of which produce edible tubers. Today the global potato harvest rely on just one. Native to South America, the potato is now the 3rd most important food crop globally, and its success has prompted numerous expeditions from Europe during the centuries, to gather specimens from diverse habitats to build a reservoir of potato diversity for our breeding and research.

Today, the James Hutton Institute maintains over 80 tuber bearing Solanum species within our Commonwealth Potato Collection (CPC), one of the world’s most diverse and well-characterised collections of potato germplasm. This invaluable resource underpins our commercial breeding programmes. Resources such as this safeguards potato diversity, allowing for an adaptability to a range of different and extreme environments, providing genetic material to mobilise desirable resistances to pest and diseases. Furthermore, potatoes are an excellent source of healthy carbohydrates, high-quality protein, and a variety of nutritional vitamins and nutrients, making them an ideal foundation for nutritional enhancement programmes. Which James Hutton Institute Scientific Services benefits from direct access to the wide range of expertise and facilities of The James Hutton Institute. By collaborating with leading potato scientists, we foster innovation and apply state-of-the-art technology within our breeding programmes.