Stages of company development
The Solana Group can look back on a tradition in potato breeding and the potato business stretching back for over 100 years, originating in 1905 with the foundation of the Kameke-Streckenthin seed breeding enterprise. Since then the company has undergone constant development, and is managed by the fourth generation of the von Kameke family.
2018
On 1st March 2018, Solana Latin America SpA is founded and headquartered in the south of Chile. The subsidiary of the Solana Group takes over and manages the business afairs in Latin America.
2015
Foundation of Solana Seeds UK Ltd in July 2015: This newly formed independent company will be responsible for looking after all the markets both in UK and Ireland.
2014
The Dutch companies Den Hartigh B.V. and Ijsselmeer Polders B.V. become wholly owned subsidiaries.
Granola is named the “Potato of the Year 2014”. The variety is still well established almost 40 years after its approval.
2013
Foundation of an agency in the United Kingdom.
2012
Establishing Solana France: The representation becomes an independent company and is responsible for development in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy.
2012
Solana acquires major share in former joint venture OOO Solana-Agro-Service in Samara (Solagro) to ensure the progress of Solana varieties on the Russian market.
2011
Solana acquires major share in Danish potato propagation and trading company Scanax Holding in order to expand to Scandinavian and Baltic markets.
2010
1 July 2010: Solana assumes distribution and marketing of SaKa potato varieties in Germany. Change of names to Solana GmbH & Co. KG and SaKa Pflanzenzucht GmbH & Co. KG.
Foundation of a foreign representation in France.
Foundation of TOV Solana Ukraina near Kiev, Ukraine, as a sales company for seed potatoes.
2009
Foundation of German Seed Alliance, a union of five companies which produce different types of seeds. The association now has four companies.
2007
Acquisition of the Ragis-shares by Dr Kartz von Kameke to continue the business in the context of an independent, family-owned company, SaKa Pflanzenzucht GbR.
2005
100th anniversary of "Saatzucht von Kameke".
2004
Foundation of Solana Agrar S.R.L. in Bucharest, Romania (now Solana Romania S.R.L.).
2003
Foundation of Solana Polska Sp. z o.o. in Kutno, Poland, as a unit for marketing seed and table potatoes and organisation of multiplication in Poland.
2002
Foundation of Solana-Agro-Service in Samara, Russia, as a unit for marketing seed potatoes and table potatoes.
2001
Acquisition of the farm in Stolpe (Mecklenburg-West-Pomerania, eastern Germany) aiming at the expansion of the production of pre-basic potato seed.
1995
Foundation of an agency in Seville, Spain, aiming for the production of early ware potatoes for the German market.
1994
Foundation of Samara-Solana, Russia, which aims at the production of high-quality potato seed for the region Samara and adjoining provinces.
1991
SaKa/Solana is the first company to ship seed potatoes to the Wolga region in Russia and start the production of seed stock for the Russian market with a local partner.
Acquisition of the farms in Ranzin and Gransebieth (Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, eastern Germany). They conduct potato field trials and are responsible for varietal maintenance and production of pre-basic potato seed.
1987
Integration of Ragis Kartoffelzucht- und Handelsges. mbH and foundation of SaKa-Ragis Pflanzenzucht GbR (SARA).
The company Solana Agrar-Produkte GmbH was founded wich promptly took over the export business of the SARA varieties. Today, Solana is an independent trading company in the international potato business.
SARA becomes shareholder in the Dutch companies Den Hartigh B.V. and IJsselmeer Polders B.V.
SARA took over the distribution of the varieties from UNIPLANTA Saatzucht KG (Niederarnbach) and started an intensive breeding co-operation.
1985
Dr Kartz von Kameke became managing shareholder and took over the overall responsibility.
1975
Registration of Granola: The variety was one of the first with a resistance against nematodes and with both, a very high yield and a good taste. In Germany, it was almost continuously the most grown potato variety from 1982 until 1994. It was named the ”Potato of the Year 2014“ in Germany.
1968
On Dobimar von Kameke's initiative, a strong merger of breeders took place: Pflanzenzucht SaKa GbR was founded by the four companies Saatzucht von Kameke-Streckenthin, Pommersche Saatzucht-Gesellschaft, Saatzucht J. Krafft-Buir and Saatzucht Raddatz-Hufenberg.
1957
The first varieties bred in the Federal Republik of Germany, such as Datura and Delos, were registered and launched.
1948
The estate in Windeby near Eckernförde (Schleswig-Holstein) was leased. Located in one of Europe's healthiest regions, the farm founded the basis for varietal maintenance and seed potato production.
1946
After the disruptions of the last war almost all breeding material was lost, and a pioneering spirit was necessary. In Böstlingen (Lower Saxony) breeding activities were started afresh and Saatzucht von Kameke-Streckenthin was rebuilt.
1942
Dobimar von Kameke took over the overall responsibility at Streckenthin estate.
1915
Progressive Pomeranian farmers founded Pommersche Saatzucht Gesellschaft (PSG) in Stettin.
1913
The “Parnassia” variety is introduced onto the market. Its characteristic features are its ruggedness, its starch content and its good resistance to late blight, which made it particularly useful during the so-called “turnip winter” in World War I. At one time Parnassia accounted for 30 per cent of the cropping area in Germany.
1905
Foundation of Saatzucht v. Kameke-Streckenthin.
1897
Cavalry Captain Kartz v. Kameke took over the farms at Streckenthin in the Köslin District. After initial variety trials he started systematic breeding programmes in potatoes.