Northern Irish experts develop two new potato varieties


Two new potato varieties have been developed by Potato Partners NI (PPNI), a joint venture between research teams in Northern Ireland and the Netherlands. The varieties have already been assessed by suppliers to major UK supermarkets and could be on the shelves for shoppers early next year.



The new varieties, Richhill and Essenza, are the outcome of research over many years co-ordinated by PPNI, a venture between Northern Ireland's Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) at Loughgall in county Armagh and KWS-Potato BV of Emmeloord in the Netherlands. The company works closely with a network of potato growers in Northern Ireland.



Geoff Conn, PPNI chairman, says: "We are delighted with the way the breeding programme is progressing. The new varieties, Richhill and Essenza have performed particularly well on commercial sites in the UK and abroad.



"Richhill is a very high yielding variety with a good shape and impressive all-round disease resistance. While Essenza is similar to Richhill, it is white skinned and matures earlier."



AFBI's Peter Hewitt adds: "The exceptional yield, skin finish and eating quality of Richhill and Essenza means we are likely to see them on our supermarket shelves before long. They have a very good skin finish and shape for both baking and pre-packing with good taste and texture to suit the UK market."



The varieties have also been trialled abroad. Richhill in particular performed well in Russia. Both varieties offer significant export potential as seed. Sunset, a variety developed by PPNI three years ago, is now being exported to Morocco, Slovenia and Jersey.



AFBI was created in April 2006 to carry out high technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions.



AFBI has a unique breadth of scientific capabilities in the areas of agriculture, animal health, food, environment and biosciences.



KWS Potato is a European leader in crop development technology and operates in over 70 markets worldwide. Its operations include a potato breeding station at Nagele, near Emmeloord.