Introducing the CIP-Matilde potato variety – International Potato Center

CIP is pleased to announce the launching of CIP-Matilde, a new potato variety in Peru as a Commercial Cultivar under the Register No. 001-2022-MIDAGRI-SENASA-DELYC. It is important to note that this register also represents the granting of a plant variety protection (PVP) certificate for the variety CIP-Matilde, guaranteeing its distinctness among cultivated potatoes in Peru.

The CIP-Matilde potato variety, a result of careful breeding by the International Potato Center (CIP) researchers, offers unique features that can enhance potato farming practices.

CIP-Matilde stands out for its resistance to late blight, a significant threat to potato crops. This resistance contributes to healthier plants and reduced yield losses. CIP-Matilde has demonstrated a potential yield of up to 60 tons per hectare in trials.

CIP-Matilde is well-suited for Peru’s central highlands, thriving at altitudes of 2500 to 4000 meters. Its adaptability to these conditions makes it a valuable option for farmers facing challenging climates. With an average vegetative period of 150 days, CIP-Matilde aligns growth with maturation effectively. The breeding and release of CIP-Matilde by CIP serve the essential purpose of augmenting the genetic diversity available for bolstering late blight resistance in current potato varieties. The certification recognizes the novelty of the bred potato variety and CIP will use it as a lever to engage with strategic partners to validate the innovative nature of the developments achieved throughout this breeding process.

The variety also has post-harvest attributes since it maintains dry matter values between 22-27%, providing a desirable floury texture. Its flavor at harvest has been favorably received by farmers and consumers alike.

The plant variety protection certificate granted to CIP-Matilde by the Peruvian National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Intellectual Property Protection (INDECOPI) and its official certification by Peru’s National Agricultural Health Service (SENASA) opens the door for certified seed production in Peru where certified potato seed availability is below regional average. Further, SENASA’s certification underscores CIP-Matilde’s consistent quality and uniformity, assuring stakeholders of its adherence to strict standards. It also helps maintain biosecurity and agricultural integrity, regulating new varieties’ entry into the market, curbing the spread of diseases, pests, and subpar crops.

At present, CIP is actively engaged in the development of a seed dissemination strategy tailored in the region where the potato variety was released. This strategy encompasses collaborative efforts with certified seed producers and strategic partners operating within local communities to promote potato crop diversification among farmers. Under this approach, seed production agreements for this new potato variety will be managed through a collaborative strategy with public and private institutions, including associations of certified seed producers registered with the national authorities. CIP will not enforce its intellectual property rights on smallholder farmers, who will be free to save and use seed for their plots, exchange or sell small amounts of the new variety to support their food security and livelihoods. Further, the wild potato species and materials used for the development of this potato variety will remain available through the multilateral system of the International Plant Treaty.