Bretagne-Plants is a recognized producers' organization (PO), which gathers all the seed potato producers of Brittany. This organization has several missions:
The potato breeding station of Bretagne plants located at Kerloï in Ploudaniel is dedicated to create new potato varieties. Present in all niches, table, salad, export or processing markets, the Kerloï teams select the varieties best suited to new market needs in order to offer them for distribution to Brittany's distributors. Bretagne Plants is a driving force in the competitiveness of the Brittany chain through its ability to develop competitive varieties. The production of seed potatoes is increasing in Brittany, representing 6280 hectares in 2019, of which 2250 hectares were planted with varieties from the Bretagne Plants breeding station. The attribution system allows future assignees (distributors) to report their needs for new varieties and, depending on the needs, the hybrids that are closest to them are given to the assignees for test trials before possible registration in the catalog.
- PRODUCTION OF IN VITRO CUTTINGS
Bretagne Plants uses the Hanvec laboratory, renovated in 2015, for in vitro cultivation but also for experimentation of new cultivation techniques and laboratory quality controls (microbiology, serology, molecular biology). The in vitro culture allows the multiplication of potato cuttings as a service for the professionals of the sector such as breeders, distributors and producers. Since 1978, the Hanvec laboratory has been a pioneer in the use of this in vitro technique which allows to launch a mass production by decreasing the number of years necessary compared to the genealogical selection technique and to produce cuttings of very high sanitary quality.
Bretagne plants also promotes its sector and its varieties. This is achieved in various ways such as the reception of foreign delegations, the implementation of communication actions, the signing of partnership agreements with foreign countries or variety trials abroad as part of the variety creation process.
Bretagne Plants also carries out regulatory control operations for the production and certification of seed potatoes by providing its staff and laboratories to the Official Control Service (SOC). Throughout the cultivation of seed potatoes, the inspectors carry out various operations such as soil analyses before planting, inspections during cultivation and analyses of sampled batches at harvest. The result of this work leads to the elaboration of rating sheets which allow the identification of the potato seed lot and ensures the tracking of the seed in case of cultivation problem. These operations concern in particular the delivery of the official label of SOC certification and the phytosanitary certificates.
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