The National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA) in Uruguay recently signed an agreement with the local agrobiotechnology company Rustikas to work together on the selection, evaluation, validation and production of seeds of new potato varieties of Uruguayan origin.
The alliance will work towards a continued genetic improvement of new potato varieties. The partners will also strive to bring about an efficient Uruguayan based seed production system and supply a national multiplication network.
The team at Rustikas is committed to ongoing innovation in genetics and plant propagation with a uniquely Uruguayan footprint. Their goal is to develop virus-free potato seeds that stand out for their hardiness and vigor; high field performance, as well as the efficient use of farm inputs and its nutritional properties.
Along the same lines, INIA works on the genetic improvement of potatoes and aims to generate cultivars adapted to local conditions, giving priority to those with a clear resistance to diseases, ranking high for their nutritional value, and excellent for consumption by consumers.
Among the potato varieties presently available on the Uruguayan market today are INIA Arequita, INIA Daym
