Genebank details

The Commonwealth Potato Collection (CPC), managed by the James Hutton Institute and supported by the Scottish Government, is a critical resource in the global network of potato gene banks. It was established to combat the threats posed by the late blight pathogen, known for causing famines in Ireland and Scotland in the 1840s. With over 1,500 accessions from approximately 80 wild and cultivated potato species from diverse South American habitats—the origin of the potato—the CPC represents a vital genetic reservoir. Notably, it was the first UK institution to contribute seeds to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. Today, the CPC functions as an ex-situ gene bank, preserving primitive and wild potato types crucial for research and breeding programs worldwide.