Ready for the Future: Agrico Research’s New Quarantine Laboratory

Agrico Research’s new quarantine laboratory has officially been commissioned. Following the completion of the facility, a successful inspection by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), and the granting of the required R&D Phyto exemption, the team can now work in a modern research environment that is ready for the future. With increased capacity, innovative technology, and an efficient layout, the laboratory makes a significant contribution to the development of strong, disease-resistant potato varieties.

An essential link in the breeding process

At Agrico Research, new potato varieties are evaluated for a wide range of characteristics. An important part of this process is testing for resistance to quarantine diseases, such as potato cyst nematodes (PCN), root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne), and potato wart disease. These harmful organisms may only be studied in a specially designed laboratory that complies with the strict regulations of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

Annemarie Nicolaas, who has been responsible for the quarantine laboratory since 2019, sees every day how important this work is for potato breeding.

We want to test all of our future potato varieties for resistance to quarantine diseases. That is why the quarantine laboratory is so important to us.

Annemarie Nicolaas

Quarantine Laboratory Coordinator

By exposing seedlings (potential new varieties) to pathogens under controlled conditions, researchers gain early insight into their resistance. This information helps breeders decide which seedlings should be retained and which should be discarded. In addition, Agrico Research tests many wild potato species (belonging to the Solanum genus) to identify new genetic sources of resistance and develop new parent lines for future crosses.

Greater capacity through smart innovation

One of the biggest challenges in recent years has been the increasing volume of material that needs to be tested, while the available capacity remained limited.

To address this, Agrico Research expanded its facilities, nearly doubling its testing capacity. While this results in a greater workload, staffing levels are not expected to increase proportionally. To help meet this challenge, Annemarie is developing an AI model together with a data specialist from Cmotions. The project is in its final phase, with the model expected to become operational this autumn.

With roughly the same number of employees, we will soon be able to handle much more capacity.

In addition, Agrico Research worked together with Lumacon, based in Marknesse, to develop a new washing table that removes soil from the root systems of test plants containing potato cysts. The table has been specifically designed with ease of use and ergonomics in mind. It is height-adjustable and automatically removes sand, roots, and soil residues, reducing the physical workload for employees.

Designed with the future in mind

When developing the new laboratory, Agrico Research deliberately looked beyond today's requirements. The goal was to create a facility that will continue to support research and breeding for decades to come.

One of the most significant improvements is the separation of laboratory activities. Previously, all work took place in a single quarantine laboratory. The new facility now consists of two laboratories with different biosafety levels: BPL-I and BPL-II (Biorisk Plant Class). This allows processes to be organised more efficiently while further reducing the risk of spreading pathogens.

Major improvements have also been made in terms of safety. The laboratory features its own internal wastewater system and dedicated facilities for processing contaminated wastewater and soil. Through autoclaving at 121°C, all pathogens are completely eliminated before any waste leaves the building.

A unique feature of the new facility is its indoor inundation room, where contaminated soil can be submerged under controlled conditions. This enables the inundation process to be carried out throughout the entire year.

High-tech climate chambers for optimal testing

The new laboratory is equipped with advanced climate chambers in which temperature, humidity, and ventilation can be precisely controlled. This allows conditions to be optimised for every individual trial.

The largest climate chambers in the BPL-I laboratory can accommodate nearly 5,000 plants per testing cycle. In addition, a smaller climate chamber is available for specialised research under alternative testing conditions.

These climate chambers enable Agrico Research to conduct two annual testing cycles for potato cyst nematodes.

The BPL-II laboratory also contains several climate chambers: two dedicated to testing potato wart resistance in whole plants, and one specialised chamber with heated walls and ceiling for conducting so-called Spieckermann tests on tuber pieces.

Contributing to the potato varieties of tomorrow

For Annemarie, the greatest benefit of the new laboratory lies not only in its technology or increased capacity, but above all in what it makes possible for the future of Agrico.

It is wonderful that, through this quarantine laboratory, we can contribute to the development of new resistant potato varieties.

By combining innovative technology, enhanced safety, and expanded testing capacity, Agrico Research now has a state-of-the-art facility that is fully prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. The new quarantine laboratory provides an important foundation for developing healthy, resilient potato varieties for the future.