Izvršni direktor Royal HZPC: Prve hibridne sorte krompirja so po skoraj 20 letih raziskav registrirane

Royal HZPC Group’s hybrid breeding programme, which started almost 20 years ago, has reached a milestone: the first hybrid varieties are now undergoing registration. Group CEO Hans Huistra shared this in an interview with Potatoes.News, together with the company’s plans for table and processing varieties and its view of what farmers will need next.

From food industry to seed potatoes

Huistra took over as CEO of Royal HZPC Group in September 2024, according to the company, and says he has now spent two and a half years at Royal HZPC Group. Before that he held roles at Unilever, FrieslandCampina, Fonterra and Hero, and sat for seven years on the board of the Royal Cosun group, which gave him exposure to Aviko and the french fry sector. Coming into seed potatoes, he said, he was struck by how long new varieties take to develop and how complex the research is, and by how much propagation methods matter for success.

Different markets, different potatoes

Royal HZPC Group is a highly international breeding company, Huistra said, and consumer preferences vary by region: taste, colour (red or yellow) and shape (long or round). Modern retail markets need washable potatoes for presentation, while traditional markets prefer brushed or unwashed ones.

He named Colomba as a successful global retail variety, grown in Europe, India, China, the US and West Africa, and one that remains a top performer in Europe. Other table varieties he highlighted: Java, now being introduced to Africa by one of the group’s companies; La Vie, gaining traction in Europe; and Tyson, from group company STET, aimed at Spain and Egypt. Research covers four categories: modern-retail table potatoes, traditional potatoes, crisping and french fries.

Hybrid breeding and true potato seed

Hybrid breeding, Huistra explained, gives faster and more controlled genetic gain than traditional methods. Growing from seed takes longer than planting seed potatoes, and in places with short seasons, such as India and north-western Europe, growers may still have to start from seed to produce first-generation field tubers. He also cited recent work in Kenya that produced a variety combining dormancy, taste and suitability for french fries with Phytophthora resistance.

The processing portfolio

For french fries, group company HZPC has what Huistra called its “Golden Quartet”: Quintera, an early-season fry potato; Travolta, aimed at the quick-service-restaurant market; Invictus, with double Phytophthora resistance genes and high yields; and Cardima, with high resistance and a specific taste profile. Group company STET is launching Castor, which needs limited nitrogen and gives high yields, and IPM is presenting Maverick. Established varieties such as Innovator and Santana, he said, continue to drive the industry in Egypt and India.

The group invites stakeholders to annual Potato Days in the Netherlands to see new varieties; Royal HZPC Group’s own event is held in Joure, on the 5th, 6th and 7th of November.

A farmer-owned breeder

Huistra described Royal HZPC Group as farmer-owned and said research is aimed at reducing the amount of agricultural chemicals needed and helping farmers deal with environmental and regulatory pressure. He called potatoes a primary cash-generating crop for the company’s partners.

Kaj to pomeni

• For seed buyers and growers: hybrid varieties are not yet on the market; they are in registration, and seed-based planting takes longer than seed potatoes.
• Za procesorje: the “Golden Quartet”, Castor and Maverick show a push towards earlier, higher-yielding and blight-resistant fry varieties; trial them against your own specifications.
• For export markets: variety choice depends on regional taste, colour and washing standards; check which varieties are approved and suited locally with your supplier or agronomist.

Viri: Potatoes.News interview with Hans Huistra, CEO, Royal HZPC Group, 28 October 2026; HZPC: Hans Huistra takes over as CEO of Royal HZPC Group (2 september 2024).