Our projects
Discover projects at Aardevo
Gain insights into our latest projects. We at Aardevo are partnering with companies and universities on various topics around the potato.
Project title: Revolutionizing Plant Breeding with 3PaTec
Climate change and a growing global population demand an agricultural revolution. Traditional breeding methods can be slow and accessing valuable traits from wild crop relatives is often limited by hybridization barriers. 3PaTec has the potential to change the game.
Our breakthrough three-parent breeding technology enables:
- Faster cultivar development – combine three beneficial traits in a single generation.
- Access to untapped genetic diversity – bypass hybridization barriers to integrate climate-resilient traits from wild species.
Why it matters:
By combining three parent genomes we accelerate breeding and by unlocking previously inaccessible genetic resources, 3PaTec empowers breeders to create crops that thrive under extreme conditions—heat, drought, pests—ensuring food security for the future.
Discover further projects
Aardevo-PCN
Project title: Aardevo-PCN
Short description: Determination of the resistance of potato genotypes to the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida
Project partners: Julius Kühn Institut für Pflanzenschutz in Ackerbau und Grünland
Duration: 01/2022-12/2026
Zuchtmethodische Grundlagen der Hybridzüchtung diploider Kartoffeln (ZucKar)
Project title: Zuchtmethodische Grundlagen der Hybridzüchtung diploider Kartoffeln (ZucKar)
The project focuses on developing the foundations for diploid hybrid potato breeding (DHP) using True Potato Seed (TPS). The goal: faster breeding progress and climate-resilient varieties.
Workpackages:
WP A: Methods to Increase Inbreeding Tolerance through Predictive Breeding
Genomic and phenotypic analysis of S0–S3 generations to predict inbreeding depression.
WP B: Optimization of Test Crosses
Investigation of which inbreeding generation test-cross progenies should be produced in order to enable early selection decisions.
Project partners: KWS Saat SE, SaKa Pflanzenzucht GmbH & Co. KG, Julius Kühn Institut für Züchtungsforschung an landwirtschaftlichen Kulturen
Duration: 06/2023-12/2025
Molecular virulence monitoring of Phythophthora infestans populations
Project title: Molecular virulence monitoring of Phythophthora infestans populations
Short description: Towards Sustainable Potato Protection
The project tackles late blight by combining real-time monitoring of Phytophthora virulence with breeding tools for stacked resistance genes. The goal: prevent resistance breakdown and reduce chemical use—paving the way for durable, climate-smart potato production.
Project partners: Stichting NAO-Projecten, Bayer A.G., EUROPLANT Innovation GmbH & Co. KG, HLB B.V., HZPC Research B.V., Pepsico, Wageningen University & Research
Duration: 01/2025-03/2029
Cold stress in potato (ColSol): unravelling stress tolerance mechanisms for climate resilient potatoes
Project title: Cold stress in potato (ColSol): unravelling stress tolerance mechanisms for climate resilient potatoes
Short description: Cold Stress: A Hidden Challenge in Potato Production
Early-season cold temperatures can severely impact potato growth—especially with the rise of True Potato Seed (TPS) technology. Our project, ColSol, explores cold tolerance using cutting-edge phenotyping and genetic approaches. By studying over 150 genotypes and testing across multiple environments, we aim to breed varieties that thrive under cold stress, enabling earlier planting, higher yields, and more sustainable production.
Project partners: Solynta (Het Idee B.V.), Saka Pflantenzucht GmbH & Co. KG, PepsiCo, Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University
Duration: 01/2025-03/2027
Resistance to invasive Phytoplasma and Zebra Chip Disease in potato
Project title: Resistance to invasive Phytoplasma and Zebra Chip Disease in potato
Short description: Fighting Stolbur & Zebra Chip in Potato
Zebra Chip and Stolbur are invasive diseases threatening potato production worldwide. Our project aims to identify resistance genes and molecular markers to breed resistant varieties. Using an innovative effectoromics approach, we will overcome current research barriers and deliver tools for sustainable disease control - reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and protecting future potato crops.
Project partners: Boehm- Nordkartoffel Agrarproduktion GmbH & Co. OHG, HZPC Research B.V., Pepsico, Wageningen Plant Research
Duration: 04/2023-12/2027
Unravelling phytochemical diversity in potato and lettuce through molecular networking
Project title: Unravelling phytochemical diversity in potato and lettuce through molecular networking
Short description: Unlocking Plant Metabolomics for Sustainable Breeding
This project focuses on developing a next-generation metabolomics workflow to analyze the phytochemical composition of crops in depth. Using potato and lettuce as model species, the team will create reference metabolite libraries and advanced annotation pipelines to link chemical profiles with genetic variation and sustainability traits. The aim is to establish metabolomics as a key technology for breeding resilient, high-quality crops aligned with Green Deal objectives.
Project partners: Averis seeds, EJO Zaden, Enza Zaden Research & Development B.V. Pepsico, Wageningen Plant Research, Solynta (Het idee B.V.)
Duration: 01/2022-12/2025