Do you want fries with that?

Rice is synonymous with Chinese agriculture and Chinese cuisine. But there’s another foodstuff where China leads the world: potatoes.

It may be surprising to learn that China is the globe’s biggest producer and consumer of potatoes. With an annual output of around 95 million tons, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, and yearly total consumption accounting for almost all of that, it’s a lot of potatoes. In addition, China holds the world’s largest potato acreage. At approximately 4.7 million hectares, that comprises roughly one quarter of the global total.

But a combination of factors, including fragmented and small-scale potato farming, rising labor costs, soil deterioration and underdeveloped processing practices have constrained the industry, limiting the potential for sustainable growth across the sector.

Now, Syngenta Group China has partnered with McDonald’s China and McCain China to build a more resilient and sustainable potato supply chain in the country. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by the three parties at the fourth China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, will transform local potato farming, supply and processing through scaling sustainable practices and smart technologies.

Su Fu, President of Syngenta Group China, says: “Agriculture today faces mounting pressure from yield and resource constraints, requiring a shift from volume expansion to resilience building.

“Syngenta aims to bring innovative technologies and modern farming services to potato farmers, safeguarding their incomes and reinforcing the entire value chain. It's an example of our commitment to bring breakthroughs for farmers in every field, to deliver higher yields with lower impact.”

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MoU signing with (L-R): Su Fu, President of Syngenta Group China, Jim Shi is Chief Supply Chain Officer, McDonald’s China, Liu Linlin, Managing Director, McCain China.

While potatoes have long been popular in China, traditional smallholder farming has hindered the domestic sector. More than 18 million households grow potatoes nationwide. Of these growers, over 90 percent manage tiny plots of, on average, 0.67 hectares, according to a report by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science.

These scattered farms have a lot to deal with, not least a lack of machinery and automation, increasing labor costs, and extreme weather. Pest and disease management can be inefficient and ineffective while domestic demand for potatoes remains dominated by fresh consumption.

Then there’s the soil issue. Throughout China, the potato industry faces soil degradation, in part due to long-term continuous cropping, pollution, logging, soil erosion, rapid urbanization, and intensive fertilizer applications.

Within the pilot framework, Syngenta Group China will explore a science-based potato planting approach that addresses soil health, customized crop stewardship, precision fertigation, integrated pest management, intelligent field monitoring, and sustainable agricultural practices. The initiative draws on the company’s full suite of agronomic inputs, digital farming solutions, and its nationwide network of MAP (Modern Agriculture Platform) technical service centers.

Launched in 2017, MAP has become China’s largest and leading agri-tech service provider, with a nationwide network of MAP tech service centers.

Since its inception, MAP has focused on bridging and empowering Chinese farmers with the latest digital tools and technologies. Its newly upgraded iMAP features a Large Language Model using local data that includes a farmer-friendly chatbot.

On average, farmers served by MAP see an 8-10 per cent yield rise, 10-20 percent less water and fertilizer use, and 10 percent lower carbon emissions, according to the 2024 MAP Green Development Report.

Empowering and helping farmers produce high-quality, low-impact food is at the forefront of this new initiative.

Jim Shi is Chief Supply Chain Officer of McDonald’s China. He says that McDonald’s’ dedication to consistent taste and quality “begins with potato cultivation right from the farm”.

He continues: “By leveraging Syngenta’s input expertise and sustainable solutions, we strive to bring premium fries to Chinese consumers sustainably and reliably.”

Meanwhile, Liu Linlin, Managing Director of McCain China, says: “McCain and McDonald’s have long partnered in China based on our shared value of quality and long-termism. This tripartite MOU marks our collective pledge to further advance the high-quality development for China’s potato sector - sustainable agricultural technologies, shared gains for farmers and partners, plus digital traceability and quality insurance for fries.”