News on Research from Asia

China grows 25% of the world’s potatoes, but 60% of its crop is in arid northwest regions where shallow roots and short growing seasons make them drought-sensitive. Researchers test drought-tolerant varieties and biochemicals to ease soil stress.

Global Potato Summit 2025, on Dec 11–13 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, will unite global experts to boost potato innovation. With 150+ exhibitors, 7,000 visitors, and live farm demos, it’s set to shape the future of the potato industry.

Both Sichuan’s potato production area and total yield remain among the largest in China. The province’s unique geographic features support year-round planting and supply, delivering strong economic and social benefits.

Allround Vegetable Processing leads India’s pre-processing sector with modular machinery, e-Gate IoT cold storage, AI-driven R&D, and expanding plants, reducing waste, boosting yields, and delivering European innovation for Indian conditions.

PoLoPo, a B2B deeptech firm, is shifting focus to the snack industry. It's patented potato offers up to three more protein than regular tubers, enabling high-protein chips with great taste and texture for brands and food manufacturers.

The International Potato Center (CIP) will establish its South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) in Singna, Agra. The Union Cabinet, led by PM Modi, approved the move based on a proposal from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

Kobe University found that potatoes secrete a molecule (SEC) that microbes convert into compounds triggering potato parasite hatching. This three-way interaction could help develop 'suicide hatching' methods to control crop-damaging nematodes.

Global Potato Summit (GPS) has announced the company Strategic Partnership with PotatoEurope, Netherlands 2025—a step that strengthens the growing synergy between India and the Netherlands in the potato value chain.

PoLoPo, a molecular farming pioneer has announced it has increased its capacity to produce samples for food industry partners with new, larger-scale lab equipment following its first successful outdoor field cultivation of protein-packed potatoes.

The Global Potato Summit 2025 in Greater Noida will focus on sustainability, technology, and growth opportunities in the potato industry. It will feature exhibitions, conferences, live demos, and networking to address key sector challenges.

Potato farming in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Philippines, spans 11,000 hectares but struggles with limited high-quality seed potatoes. At the World Potato Congress (WPC) 2024 in Adelaide, Australia, experts highlighted Apical Rooted Cuttings (ARC) as a solution to improve yields.

Potatoes are increasingly traded globally, raising the risk of spreading quarantined pests and diseases. Organizations like EPPO and national bodies regulate many of these threats, necessitating a unified approach to pest and disease management.

HyFun Foods, India’s largest processor of potatoes in frozen French fries and potato specialities and its farmer-facing venture HyFarm are now Gold members of the World Potato Congress Inc.’s prestigious 'Sustaining Partner Program'. 

Chinese scientists are working urgently to safeguard potato crops - a critical food source worldwide - against the growing threat of climate change. 

PoLoPo, a molecular farming pioneer has announced it will begin supplying patatin, the native protein in potatoes, to commercial clients following regulatory approval.

The proposal has passed through negotiations and advanced to the Agriculture Ministry’s 100-Day Agenda.

A groundbreaking wind-operated aerial insect trap designed to revolutionize pest management in agriculture has been developed by a team of scientists at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI) in Shimla.

PoLoPo, a molecular farming pioneer, has announced its SuperAA platform, the first step to producing proteins in common plant crops. Currently potatoes are grown at greenhouse scale to produce the potato protein patatin as well as the egg protein (!) ovalbumin.