To increase the availability of disease-free seed potatoes of local & heritage varieties

The project prepared an Action Plan for national authorities and sectoral agencies responsible for seed legislation, food security and agricultural policy to improve the availability and sustainable use of local potato varieties in Latvia, Estonia and Finland.

Designed as a practical, evidence-based roadmap, the Action Plan combines detailed analysis, policy recommendations and a Policy Brief highlighting the key measures needed to improve access to healthy planting material. Turning research into practical action helps increase the supply of disease-free seed potatoes while strengthening the connection between traditional food culture and sustainable agriculture.

The project actively engaged national authorities responsible for plant variety registration and seed regulation, research institutions, gene banks, universities, local authorities, NGOs, and community growers across Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. Its results have already attracted interest from national authorities, research institutes, municipalities, and NGOs in all three countries

Latvia

• The Latvian Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics (AREI) used elements of the draft Action Plan to improve access to healthy seed potatoes of heritage varieties and committed to implementing additional actions from 2025 onwards.
• The Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) integrated project topics into study programmes, tested a new in situ preservation method, and supported student projects.
• The Latvian Permaculture Association organised community awareness events and contributed to collecting heritage potato material.
• The Latvian State Plant Protection Service (VAAD) and the Ministry of Agriculture are expected to use the Action Plan when reviewing national procedures for registration, certification, and trade.

Estonia

•  The Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge (METK) used the draft Action Plan to improve access to healthy seed potatoes of heritage varieties and committed to implementing additional actions from 2025 onwards.
• The Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU) integrated project topics into study programmes, tested a new in situ preservation method, and supported student projects.
• The Estonian Permaculture Association organised community awareness events and contributed to collecting heritage potato material.

By now, the project has attracted interest from national authorities, research institutes, municipalities, and NGOs across the three countries. AREI, METK and LUKE will keep and expand heritage variety collections and continue genetic identification and documentation, using the Action Plan as a framework for working with gene banks, growers, and educational institutions. They will also use the proposed promotional and awareness-raising activities in their daily work. National authorities Latvian State Plant Protection Service (VAAD), Latvian Ministry of Agriculture, Estonian Agriculture and Food Board and Finnish Food Authority are expected to use the Plan as a reference when reviewing national procedures for registration, certification, and trade

The project developed a shared practical guide to help gene banks, researchers, and community organisations collect, preserve, and share local and heritage potato varieties across Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. The guide includes: a detailed manual for gene banks and research institutions; a simplified, illustrated version for growers and community organisations; practical templates and agreements for depositing and distributing plant material.

Together, these resources standardise documentation, identification, health testing, and dissemination procedures, while helping institutions comply with international and European plant health rules. By harmonising practices across the three countries, the guide makes cross-border cooperation easier and reduces administrative uncertainty.

Latvia

• AREI and the Latvian State Plant Protection Service (VAAD) use the guide to collect, document, maintain, and exchange heritage potato varieties.
• The municipality of Cēsis and the Latvian Permaculture Association contributed to developing practical procedures and community engagement.

Estonia

•  METK and the Estonian Agriculture and Food Board use the guide in their work on collecting, documenting, maintaining, and exchanging heritage varieties.
• The municipality of Lääne-Nigula (or Lemi, if correct in your original) and the Estonian Permaculture Association helped ensure the guide works in practice for local communities.

Finland

• LUKE and the Finnish Food Authority apply the guide in maintaining heritage potato collections and reviewing procedures for exchanging unprotected varieties.

Today, the guide is actively used by AREI, METK, and LUKE in their daily work. National authorities use it when reviewing procedures for exchanging and distributing unprotected varieties, while NGOs rely on the simplified version during training events and seed exchange initiatives. Together, these efforts have strengthened coordination between national collections and helped secure the long-term availability of unique local potato varieties.