The long-term cooperation between Latvian and Estonian potato scientists has reached a new milestone. The cooperation between the scientific institutes of the two countries in the MainPotRe project, which is currently jointly implemented, has encouraged the creation of safety collections of potato genetic resources. At the international meeting organized by METK at the beginning of November, the gene banks of the two countries exchanged for the first time in vitro safety duplicates of potato to ensure the preservation of varieties in parallel in both countries.
On November 7, a seminar of partners of the MainPotRe project was held in Pajusi manor together with target groups. In a solemn ceremony, the representatives of both countries, Kristiina Laanemets from METK and Ilze Dimante (AREI) signed an agreement on the exchange of the first samples of five varieties to preserve them as safety copies of potato plants in vitro.
"I am pleased that as a result of the cooperation between our institutes, the exchange of security duplicates of potato genetic resources has taken place. This initiative will strengthen food security and the preservation of economic heritage in our countries," said Ilze Dimante, The institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics leading researcher.
"The long-term and also friendly cooperation between the gene banks of our countries is a great benefit for Estonia and Latvia. By helping each other, we can ensure that the unique potato varieties of both countries are safely preserved in the neighboring country," added Kristina Lånemeta, METK's leading researcher.
The MainPotRe project receives financial support from the European Union Interreg Baltic Sea Region Program 2021-2027. within the year.