Titel: Tackling potato breeding challenges through research
Abstract: Potato breeding faces several challenges due to the crop's complex genome, low multiplication coefficient and high number of traits under selection. This presentation will review several research efforts that are expected to impact the way we breed potato in the future. These include efforts to establish predictive breeding pipelines, collaborative action for biodiversity-friendly agriculture through breeding for integrated pest management, and more targeted use of potato genetic resources.
Biography: Vanessa has been a potato breeder and R&D project manager with the Solana Group for 14 years. After successfully implementing a pre-breeding programme, she focused on potato breeding research. Her pro-active nature and strong scientific background has secured several high profile national and European research collaborations for the R&D department, paving the way for Solana's shift towards predictive breeding for variety development.
Vanessa is currently Chair of the Potato Section of the European Association for Research on Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA), and has co-organised the scientific conference "Joint Meeting of the EAPR Section 'Breeding & Varietal Assessment' and EUCARPIA Section 'Potatoes'" in Germany (2018) and Scotland (2025).
After studying agricultural sciences at the University of Hohenheim and postgraduate research at CIMMYT-Mexico, Vanessa obtained her PhD in Plant Breeding and Applied Genetics with a thesis on "Implementation and Optimisation of the Doubled Haploid Technology for Tropical Maize Breeding Programs", which became the basis for CIMMYT's move into large-scale DH production within its Global Maize Program and earned her the Josef G. Knoll European Science Award in 2012.
