Korea’s E Green Global is using cell ag to change the way the world grows potatoes

When we hear the term ‘cellular agriculture’ these days, our minds typically wander to the production of cultivated meat and dairy. But similar techniques also have a part to play in growing fruits, vegetables, and other crops, writes Jack Ellis in an article published by AgFunder Network (AFN).

Ellis writes that South Korea’s E Green Global is starting out by creating potato seedlings from tissue cultures in the lab, and hopes to replicate the method with other crops in the near future.

E Green Global’s ‘lab-grown’ seed potatoes start life in “bio-secured plant factories” which keep them disease-free, and can be continually harvested throughout the year. The Seoul-based startup works on a contract-farming basis, or joint cultivation arrangements whereby it gives its “microtubers” to partner farmers as part of an investment deal.

“We believe [its] microtubers technology can supercharge efficiency for potato farmers and processors by enabling faster, better, and cheaper crops in Asia Pacific and across the $144 billion global potato market,” said Minsoo Kim, ADB Ventures investment specialist.

AFN recently caught up with E Green Global CEO Keejoon Shin (KS) to find out more.