80% robust potato varieties in Switzerland by 2040

Swisspatat and the Ofag are aiming to cultivate potato varieties with improved resistance to late blight, drought, and heat across 80% of Switzerland's potato-growing regions by 2040. This initiative, backed by four years of joint research between the Agroscope research station and the University of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL), has shown promising results in reducing fungicide usage by 50 to 75% without increasing the risk of contamination. However, given that suitable varieties are currently in short supply, the partners have set a target of around 2035 for achieving this goal, allowing time for the necessary breeding processes to be completed.