Open day: Rudolf Schick celebrates potato research in MV!
Open day: Rudolf Schick celebrates potato research in MV!
Groß Lüsewitz, Deutschland - On June 14, 2025, the Groß Lüsewitz research campus opened its doors for all potato lovers and researchers. On the occasion of the 120th birthday of the agricultural scientist and breeder Rudolf Schick, the event was a tribute to a pioneer of potato breed. Welt.de reports that numerous visitors about the latest developments and challenges in the Could inform potato research.
Rudolf Schick, a native of Rostock who was born in 1905, was not only breeder, but also a professor and temporarily rector of the University of Rostock. His life's work comprises the establishment of the Institute for Plant Breeding in Groß Lüsewitz, where he made a significant contribution to plant research until his death in 1969. The comprehensive career of Schick, which was shaped by his teacher Erwin Baur, among other things, can be found on the Wikipedia page: Wikipedia
tradition meets innovation
The motto of the event "Innovation needs tradition" illustrated the need to incorporate old knowledge of modern research. Thilo Hammann, deputy head of the Julius Kühn specialist institute, recalled that the ideal potato always remains a dream. Different tastes and preferences make it almost impossible to breed a universally perfect variety.
Currently, potatoes must have up to 60 defined properties that range from taste to the shell thickness. The challenges that the herb and tuber rot, caused by phytophthora infestans , were particularly discussed. This disease leads to significant loss of harvest worldwide and questioned over 20 % of the total potato harvest.
The potato: a piece of history
But where does the potato actually come from? Originally Solanum tuberosum comes from the Andes in Bolivia and Peru. In the 16th century, seafarers brought them to Europe. Initially, the tuber was considered to be poisonous, recognized Frederick the Great their value and promoted its cultivation in Pomerania to secure food supply. Even today, Germany is the largest potato producer in the EU with 12.7 million tons, with around 575,000 tons being harvested in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania alone-a considerable increase of about 8 % compared to the previous year.
In total, there are more than 3000 types of potatoes, many of them bred for special uses, be it for french fries or for strength production. About 60 % of the annual harvest are used as food, while 30 % are used for starch production - a versatile raw material that even has its place in the toothpaste.
Research on potatoes will continue to remain crucial to meet the current challenges and to serve the high demand for different varieties. The open door in Groß Lüsewitz was a step in the right direction to further promote the exchange between tradition and innovation.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Ort | Groß Lüsewitz, Deutschland |
| Quellen | |