Belarus’s Ministry of Agriculture is spearheading a strategic shift from commodity potato production to sophisticated value-added processing, aiming to capture higher margins and build a more resilient agricultural sector through innovation and deep product diversification.
In a move designed to boost economic returns and reduce dependency on raw commodity exports, Belarus is launching a major initiative to expand its potato processing capabilities. During a working trip to the Tolochinsky Canning Plant in the Vitebsk Region, Minister of Agriculture and Food Yuri Gorlov emphasized that the key to sustainable growth lies in adopting advanced technologies and moving beyond traditional products like frozen French fries. The government has now tasked the Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences for Potato and Vegetable Growing with leading this charge, focusing on developing new product lines that utilize potato starch and other derivatives for deeper market penetration.
This strategic pivot is highly timely. While the Tolochinsky plant has found success producing frozen French fries for major fast-food chains—a product in high demand among younger consumers—relying on a single product category leaves the sector vulnerable to market shifts. The new focus on deep processing, including modified starches for food and industrial applications, aligns with global trends. According to a 2023 report by the European Potato Processors’ Association (EUPPA), the global market for potato starch and specialty derivatives is growing at a CAGR of 5.2%, significantly outpacing the growth of fresh potato markets. Furthermore, a FAO analysis on value-added agriculture confirms that diversification into processed products can increase farm-level profitability by 40-60% by stabilizing prices and opening new revenue streams.
The visit also highlighted integrated agricultural planning, with Minister Gorlov inspecting the enterprise’s industrial apple orchard. He noted that the country has sufficient supplies of storage-friendly apple varieties to meet domestic demand, with Brest and Grodno regions remaining key suppliers after surviving spring frosts. This parallel focus on fruit production underscores a comprehensive strategy for strengthening the entire processed food sector.
Belarus’s push toward advanced potato processing represents a critical evolution in its agricultural policy. For farmers and agronomists, this signals a future where varietal selection may prioritize processing qualities like starch content alongside yield. For agricultural engineers and farm owners, it highlights the growing importance of building relationships with processing facilities and adopting production practices that meet specific industrial standards. For scientists, the directive creates a clear applied research agenda focused on product development and optimization. This transition from volume-based to value-based production is not just a revenue strategy—it’s a essential step for building a more innovative, profitable, and climate-resilient agricultural economy capable of competing in global markets.
