For decades, agricultural productivity has increasingly relied on a narrowing pool of genetic diversity. While this has driven major gains in yield, it has also created new vulnerabilities for farmers, ecosystems and global food security. Strengthening crop resilience requires continuous improvement of existing varieties, drawing on diverse genetic resources and strong collaboration between research and breeding.

The partnership between the International Potato Center (CIP) and Dutch potato breeding company HZPC demonstrates how public and private actors can work together to accelerate crop improvement. Through the TAP5 collaboration, both partners combine their complementary expertise: CIP’s strengths in disease and virus resistance and HZPC’s breeding experience in quality, processing and market traits.

Sixteen years after the partnership began, this collaboration has already delivered tangible results. New potato varieties adapted to diverse environments are being developed faster than traditional breeding timelines would normally allow. Beyond scientific progress, the partnership also explores innovative benefit-sharing mechanisms, with royalties from successful varieties reinvested into research and international frameworks that support the sustainable use of plant genetic resources.

This example shows how long-term public-private collaboration can help bring more resilient crop varieties to farmers, supporting stable livelihoods, stronger food systems and improved food security.

For more inspiration, explore the other videos, take a look at SeedNL’s 7 Guiding Principles, or read more on their partnerships on the websites of CIP and HZPC.