new videoclip - groundbreaking Dutch onion science

For every newsletter we publish a new videoclip on our HOA YouTube channel. In our new video clip ‘groundbreaking Dutch onion science’ we show you something that has never been shown before anywhere in the world. The sequence of the sixteen Read more »

breaking news: Dutch scientists reveal onion genome

It took a while, but the complete DNA sequence of the onion has finally been decrypted. Sixteen billion bases show that the onion genome carries 5 times more information than the human genome. The door to a treasure trove of genetic information is now wide Read more »

a good year for onion lovers

Onions have never been so popular. The popularity of the onion is increasing in an unrivalled way. It looks like the Holland Onion will have, yet again, a new export volume record this season, despite decreasing exports in the second half.

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When, relatively recently, the human genome was published, it turned the world upside down. Groups of researchers all around the world contributed to the immense Human Genome Project. It had taken 1,000 hard-working researchers, 13 years and an investment of 2.7 billion dollars and resulted in headline news all over the world.

Now, 18 years later, there is again front-page news: the genome of the most-eaten vegetable in the world has finally been decoded. Dutch scientists have succeeded where no one in the world had succeeded up to now. The complete base sequence of the onion's genetic material has been deciphered. It was a mammoth task since the onion's complete DNA set is no less than 5 times larger than the human one.

The impact of this discovery is enormously important worldwide because onions are a primary necessity for a very large part of the world's population. Getting to know the genome means we can understand faster how to make onions more tolerant of drought or more resistant to diseases and pests. We can much better study the large range of health effects of onions. Knowledge of the newly uncovered DNA sequence will accelerate the process of breeding new and better onion varieties by a factor two.

All credit goes to Dr. Ing. Richard Finkers and Dr. Ir. Olga Scholten of the world-famous Wageningen UR!
The (onion) world is grateful!

Hats off!

Gijsbrecht Gunter
President