How a unique public–private partnership is harnessing the potato to face climate change
The potato is one of the world’s most important food crops, but it is under pressure. Climate change is bringing more extreme weather conditions, from devastating droughts to tropical downpours.
The 400-Billion-Euro Question: How to Save the Potato from the Climate Crisis
At the same time, there is growing public demand to reduce the use of chemical crop protection products. For a sector with a global annual turnover of 400 billion euros, this is an enormous challenge. What will the potato of the future look like?
Guus Heselmans & Jochem Huijben
Tackling complex abiotic stress challenges
“This is what we need to combat the biotic stress challenge.”
CropXR creates a vibrant ecosystem where government, researchers, and companies work as one united force. This tri-party collaboration is essential for tackling complex abiotic stress challenges that threaten food security.
– Guus Heselmans, Meijer Potato.
“CropXR might be able to fuel a new era of Dutch agriculture.”
My goal is to find potato traits that can help optimize future potato varieties. The focus is on traits that enable cooperation with the soil microbiome.
– Jochem Huijben, CropXR PhD candidate
Competitors sharing data
As part of the CropXR-Potato research programme, potato breeders and processors are joining forces within Holland Innovative Potato (HIP). Companies that normally compete are now sharing one of their most valuable assets: data.
“CropXR is a unique opportunity to work together on solving some of the most difficult questions we face. Such as: how do we make potatoes resilient to drought, and how do we make them more efficient in their use of nitrogen, says Johan Hopman of McCain Foods.
Working together: A shift for the sector, but a necessary one.
It is a major shift for the sector, but a necessary one to create a future-proof potato industry. Within CropXR, new potato varieties are being researched and cultivated that are more resilient to a changing climate. This program gives the farmers of the future the tools they need to achieve sustainable, reliable harvests, even under unpredictable weather conditions.
Johan Hopman & Curtis Frederick
Pre-competitive collaboration
“Solving some of the most difficult questions we face in potato breeding.”
CropXR is a unique opportunity to work together on solving some of the most difficult questions we face. Such as: how do we make potatoes resilient to drought, and how do we make them more efficient in their use of nitrogen.
-Johan Hopman, McCain Foods
“The real advantage is working with the best and brightest minds in The Netherlands.”
“CropXR’s role is to work together in a pre-competitive space on broad data sets across different growing conditions. The real advantage is working with the best and brightest minds in The Netherlands.”
-Curtis Frederick, Aviko
Data and collaboration
The strength of CropXR lies in what Curtis Frederick of Aviko calls pre-competitive collaboration. “The real benefit is working with the very best and brightest people in the Netherlands on these challenges,” he says.
By working together, they are building a shared dataset that no single company could have created on its own: observations of thousands of plants under different growing conditions, from drought stress to nutrient availability.
Working with the very best and brightest people in the Netherlands.
At Utrecht University, PhD researcher Jochem Huijben is taking a completely new approach. He is studying how the microbiome, the world of bacteria and fungi around plant roots, can be harnessed to improve crops. This is exactly the kind of interdisciplinary research that is only possible through this collaboration.
Susanne Sütterlin & Peter Oldenkamp
Long timeframes and extraordinary energy
“Tis large timeframe is a fantastic opportunity for researchers, industry and government.”
“This large timeframe of 10 years really gives you the opportunity to plan your research, to consider your results, and to adjust your work along the way when needed. That is a fantastic opportunity for researchers, industry and government.”
– Susanne Sütterlin, Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature
“The energy in this community is really flabbergasting.”
“The energy in this community is really flabbergasting because you see passionate people from different parts of the chain working together to find the best results.”
– Peter Oldenkamp, Agrico Research
The luxury of long-term thinking
One of the great strengths of this potato research is the ten years that have been set aside for it. “This extended timespan really gives you the opportunity to plan your research, reflect on results, and adapt the program where needed,” confirms Suzanne Sütterlin of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature.
This extended timespan really gives you the opportunity to plan your research, reflect on results, and adapt the program where needed.
This way of thinking long term creates more space for effective interdisciplinary collaboration. The participating organizations, each with their own expertise, can take the time to understand one another’s methods. In doing so, they develop a common language to create new potato varieties and shape the potato cultivation of the future.
Gerard van der Linden, Hans Langereis and Andries Middag
Diversity, driving excellence
“CropXR is a very lively and active community with enthusiastic people.”
Great leadership creates great communities. CropXR’s success stems from enthusiastic management that fosters genuine collaboration between diverse partners. This energy enables researchers and industry to develop climate-resilient crops together.
– Gerard Van der Linden, Wageningen University and Research
“It must really make a difference, both from a scientific and an industrial perspective.”
“What’s important for me in CropXR is the scientific cooperation with the universities. The programmes they run must really make a scientific difference and align well with our objectives from an industrial perspective.”
-Hans Langereis, McCain Foods
“CropXR is one of the best groups I’m involved in.”
“CropXR is one of the best groups I’m involved in. A lot of motivated people with different backgrounds, but we respect the differences and make the best of it.”
– Andries Middag, Vereniging voor de Aardappelverwerkende Industrie
More than the sum of its parts
“This unique combination of trust, shared urgency, and long-term commitment has made CropXR-Potato a next-level public-private partnership,” says Hedwich Teunissen, managing director of CropXR. “All the partners involved recognize that this is a unique opportunity.”
The massive challenge of climate change is also driving a major boost in collaboration within CropXR. “The energy in this community is really remarkable,” says Peter Oldenkamp. “You see passionate people from different parts of the chain working together to find the best results.”
All partners recognize that this is a unique opportunity.”
Hedwich Teunissen, Managing Director, CropXR
Beyond potatoes
The research within CropXR is designed to support the farmer of the future. It generates knowledge for the development of potato varieties that are more resistant to drought, use nutrients more efficiently, and are less dependent on crop protection products. In addition, predictive models are being developed to help farmers anticipate a changing climate and improve future cultivation strategies.
Beyond potatoes, CropXR works on other resilient crops through a combination of ambitious research and collaboration between researchers, companies, and government. See the full mission of CropXR.
Potato Resilience on Dutch Television
Super Plant – Is the secret to food security hidden in the soil?
That is how Dutch television highlighted the topic of crop resilience and microbiome in this episode of science TV programme Focus. CropXR’s potato research was given a prominent place in the programme.
With CropXR researchers Jochem Huijben, Stijn Nagelkerke, Roeland Berendsen and Guido Van den Ackerveken.
This broadcast is in Dutch. International viewers can select automated subtitles in their preferred language on YouTube.
A next level public private partnership
From competition to collaboration
Companies that normally are competitors join forces and are now sharing one of their most valuable assets: data.
Long-term thinking
One of the great strengths of this potato research is the ten years timespan.
More than the sum of its parts
A unique combination of trust, shared urgency, and long-term commitment.
Supporting the farmers of the future
By generating knowledge for the development of potato varieties that are more resilient.
Organisations mentioned in this article
Public–private consortia
Enterprises
Dutch Government
Universities
