Mendoza’s potato sector has entered an ambitious new phase of development with the official launch of the Mendoza Potato Cluster (Clúster de la Papa de Mendoza). Unveiled during the second edition of “Habemus Papas II”—a premier event celebrating International Potato Day—the cluster brings together key public, private, and academic institutions to strengthen the production chain, boost industrial yields, and diversify regional agriculture.
Below is an analytical breakdown of this landmark regional initiative, its key participants, and the strategic outlook for Mendoza’s agricultural sector.
A Unified Front: Public and Private Collaboration
The launching of the potato cluster represents a coordinated strategy to replicate the success of other regional agricultural models, such as the highly successful “Tomate 2000” consortium.
- The Founding Partners: Alfredo Draque, the Director of Agriculture for Mendoza, explained that the new cluster is driven by a joint effort between the National Agricultural Technology Institute (INTA), the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), local municipal governments, and active regional potato growers and industrial processing firms.
- Target Objectives: The primary goal is to establish a network connecting smallholders, industrial buyers, and technology suppliers. This integration will help farmers improve environmental management, optimize resource usage, and secure higher crop yields to ultimately improve economic margins.
- Diversification and Gastronomy: Beyond conventional varieties, the cluster plans to support the growing sector of ancestral Andean potatoes (papines andinos). Highlighting unique genetic diversity, colorful skins, and high mineral content, these potatoes are highly coveted in boutique culinary markets and high-end gastronomy.
The Industrial Engine: Simplot’s Strategic Role
The technical sessions featured prominent industrial voices, most notably Rodrigo López, a representative of the food manufacturing giant Simplot. The multinational operates a processing plant in Luján de Cuyo and maintains agricultural fields in Pareditas (San Carlos), making it a major stakeholder in Mendoza’s agricultural ecosystem.
- Scale of Operations: Simplot processes between
$750$and$780$hectares of potatoes annually in the region. - Sourcing Local Inputs: The vast majority of these inputs are grown directly in Mendoza, with a smaller portion imported from the Buenos Aires province to maintain continuous production.
- Export Strategy: Simplot’s Mendoza plant is highly integrated into the global economy, exporting between
$70\%$and$80\%$of its final output (mainly frozen French fries) to Brazil and wider Latin American markets, while the remainder is sold domestically.
Sustainable Development and Global Trends
The “Habemus Papas II” event, held across the INTA Luján de Cuyo headquarters and Estancia Atamisque in the scenic Tupungato region, went beyond national borders to discuss international agricultural trends.
International experts from Peru and Ecuador discussed regenerative agriculture practices, eco-friendly soil management, and the preservation of genetic potato strains in high-altitude environments. The launch of the specialized textbook “Papas andinas y quinua” (Andean Potatoes and Quinoa) further emphasized the scientific backing supporting the new Mendoza cluster.
Information Sources
This article was prepared using specialized agricultural reports from the portal Argenpapa (argenpapa.com.ar, news item # $17348$), compiling technical announcements and statements from the Mendoza Ministry of Production, original field coverage published by the regional newspaper Los Andes (losandes.com.ar), and operational summaries provided by Simplot and INTA.
