China’s potato industry is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation. At the center of this revolution is Gannongshu No. 7, a new, domestically developed potato variety bred by the team of Professor Zhang Feng at Gansu Agricultural University. After two decades of innovation and field trials, this variety is finally proving its potential on the field and in the factory — with record-breaking yields, superior processing qualities, and growing global demand.
Breaking Free from Imported Varieties
Gansu Province is one of China’s top three potato-producing regions, yet for years, the local industry has relied heavily on imported processing varieties like Atlantic and Shepody. These foreign cultivars, while popular, have limited adaptation to China’s arid and increasingly unpredictable climate.
The lack of domestically-bred processing-specific potato varieties has long been a bottleneck. “Changing the variety structure is key to expanding the potato value chain and boosting added value,” says Professor Zhang. According to his research, processed products can offer 2.5x to 7x higher value than fresh potatoes — with flakes, fries, and chips commanding the highest margins.
Gannongshu No. 7: Designed for High Yield and Industrial Use
Gannongshu No. 7 is one of the first elite Chinese varieties specifically tailored for fries and full powder processing. It combines several high-value traits:
- High dry matter content
- Low reducing sugar levels (resistant to cold-induced sweetening)
- Strong drought and heat resistance
- Excellent storage and shelf life
- Outstanding yield potential
In field trials conducted in Liangzhou over 1,860 mu (124 hectares), the average yield reached 5,812.51 kg per mu, equivalent to 87 tons per hectare — a significant improvement over traditional varieties.
For typical farmers, yields were 800–1,200 kg/mu higher than Atlantic, while large-scale enterprises achieved 4.5–5.5 tons per mu (67.5–82.5 tons per hectare), all while maintaining industrial-grade quality standards.
Scaling Up and Going Global
Since its release, Gannongshu No. 7 has been quickly adopted by leading Chinese processing companies such as Aiwake, Daliyuan, Kaida, Xuechuan, and Shuxiangyuan, who now use it as a preferred raw material for chips, fries, and flakes.
The impact is significant:
- 43 million mu (2.87 million hectares) of cumulative adoption across 13 provinces, including Gansu, Xinjiang, and Shaanxi
- RMB 1.47 billion in total output value
- RMB 91.2 million in increased added value for processors and growers
- RMB 4 million in variety licensing revenues
- Export of 3,000 tons of processing-grade potatoes to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia beginning in 2024
This expansion is enabled by a full innovation chain that links germplasm research, breeding, seed multiplication, farmer extension, and enterprise cooperation — a textbook example of how agricultural science can drive industrial transformation.
Gannongshu No. 7 represents a major leap forward in China’s effort to localize and strengthen its potato processing sector. With its impressive agronomic traits, high industrial compatibility, and growing international reach, it proves that homegrown innovation can rival and even surpass imported varieties. For researchers, breeders, processors, and farmers, this variety offers a new benchmark for what China’s potato industry can achieve — not just at home, but globally.
