SolEdits and Lyckeby ready to Launch CRISPR-Edited Potatoes to Deliver Chemical-Free, Storage-Stable Starch

A groundbreaking collaboration between Swedish biotech company SolEdits and Lyckeby, a leading producer of potato starch, has resulted in a new generation of CRISPR-edited potatoes that can save at least 5,000 tonnes of chemicals annually in Sweden – equal to up to 75,000 tonnes if realised across the EU.

The Challenge

Potato starch is a key ingredient in a wide range of products – from soups, sauces, and dairy products to paper and cardboard. To meet industrial requirements for process tolerance and storage stability, a large share of the 50 million tonnes of starch produced worldwide each year must be chemically modified – a process that consumes vast quantities of chemicals and energy.

The Solution

In partnership with Lyckeby, SolEdits has developed potato with “storage-stable starch” using its proprietary CRISPR-based breeding process. 

By making a few precise genome edits, SolEdits removed the starch components that previously required chemical treatment. The result is a potato that produces an optimised amylopectin starch, eliminating the need for chemical modification while providing an excellent natural storage stability.

The Results

• 5,000 tonnes of chemicals saved annually in Sweden – equivalent to 75,000 tonnes across the EU
• A natural, “green label” starch with no chemical modification
• Improved product quality and shelf life
• Added value for the 600 members of the Lyckeby Group Economic Association – of whom about 360 are active potato growers

Kalle Johansson, Development Manager at Lyckeby:  

"SolEdits is a key partner in our pursuit of ambitious sustainability goals. This collaboration enables us to create added value for our 600 members – the growers and owners of the Lyckeby Group Economic Association."

SolEdits’ Role

SolEdits provides both the technology and the know-how to accelerate genetic improvements in commercially important potato varieties.Through CRISPR, new traits can be introduced with high precision – such as:

• Storage stability of starch
• Improved tuber storage quality
• Disease and heat resistance
• Enhanced food quality and safety

The Future

Lyckeby has been testing CRISPR-edited potatoes developed by SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) and later SolEdits, a spin-off from SLU’s pioneering research, in field trials since 2017. 

The partners are now ready to launch the first NGT potato as soon as EU legislation permits – with a decision on a new legislation expected early 2026. 

Mariette Andersson, CEO at SolEdits:

"This is only the beginning. With CRISPR, we can make potato even healthier and more sustainable in the future."