The modern global agricultural industry is undergoing a deep structural transformation driven by the need to adapt to climate instability, volatile energy markets, and the search for new ways to ensure food security. Potatoes, traditionally called the “second bread,” are shifting from a basic food staple to a strategic resource capable of ensuring the resilience of national economies. In this context, the International Potato Tour (IPT) serves not just as a series of expeditions, but as a fundamental platform for forming a new agribusiness philosophy: “Potato Grower 2.0”.1 The upcoming presentation in Akhalkalaki, the heart of Georgian potato farming, is intended to lay the foundation for long-term cooperation between local producers and the global expert community, ensuring access to innovations and international markets.3
Global Mission and Philosophical Foundation of the International Potato Tour
The International Potato Tour is a unique media-expeditionary project organized by the POTATOES NEWS platform under the leadership of Viktor Kovalev. The project’s primary mission is to overcome industry fragmentation and create a unified information space where breeders, growers, processors, and technology providers can interact regardless of geographical boundaries.5
The Concept of “Potato Grower 2.0” and “Potato Diplomacy”
At the core of the project is a technocratic vision for agricultural development, where data transparency and technological exchange play key roles.1 The “Potato Grower 2.0” philosophy advocates for moving away from fragmented competition and “price wars” in favor of transparent dialogue and joint solutions to global challenges. This is reflected in the term “Potato Diplomacy,” which was officially recognized at the Global Potato Summit in Delhi in December 2025 as an effective mechanism for technology transfer across political borders.1
The IPT project functions as an “International Industry Radar” designed to identify market imbalances and provide professionals with objective information obtained directly from the fields.5 The principle of “Real Fields, Real People” eliminates marketing bias, allowing observers to see the actual performance of equipment, fertilizer efficiency, and variety viability in specific production conditions.5
The Role of Viktor Kovalev in Shaping Industry Standards
Viktor Alekseevich Kovalev, the founder of the project and an expert with a deep engineering background, has brought industrial management principles to agronomy.1 His experience in implementing large-scale projects, such as launching high-tech greenhouse complexes with yields of up to 55 kg of tomatoes per square meter and creating storage systems with capacities exceeding 100,000 tons, forms the basis of the IPT methodology.1 An engineering approach to agriculture implies that success depends on the precision of every system setting: from automated soil moisture monitoring to adaptive ventilation in storage facilities tailored to regional climates.1
Analysis of the Georgia Potato Sector (2024–2026)
Georgia, possessing outstanding natural resources for potato cultivation, is showing impressive industry dynamics. The Samtskhe-Javakheti region, and Akhalkalaki in particular, is a key link in this chain.4
Statistical Indicators and Market Trends
According to Geostat and analytical reports, 2024 and 2025 were periods of significant production growth. In 2024, the country’s gross potato harvest reached 221,100 tons, exceeding 2023 figures by 12.1%.6 The average yield in 2024 was 15 tons per hectare, an increase of 3.4 tons compared to the previous cycle.6 However, the most ambitious indicators are expected for 2025–2026.
| Data Category | 2024 | 2025 (Reported/Forecast) | Dynamics / Change |
| Gross Harvest (tons) | 221,100 6 | 258,971 8 | +17.1% |
| Average Yield (t/ha) | 15.0 6 | 25.0 8 | +66.7% |
| Areas under Potato (ha) | ~14,740 | 10,480.7 8 | Area Consolidation |
| Export Volume (Q1) (tons) | 1,077 6 | 43,465 6 | +3652% |
| Export Revenue (USD) | 358,000 6 | 13,461,000 6 | +3660% |
The record growth in exports in early 2025 (more than 37 times compared to the same period in 2024) indicates a qualitative shift in the country’s trade strategy and successful entry into the markets of Turkmenistan, Moldova, and Uzbekistan.6 Simultaneously, a sharp decrease in import dependency is observed: in the first 8 months of 2024, potato imports to Georgia fell by 71.34% in volume and 68.25% in value.9 This indicates that domestic production is becoming more competitive in both price and quality.
Regional Specifics: Akhalkalaki and Tsalka
The Akhalkalaki region remains the epicenter of production, where potato farming is the backbone of the economy. During the IPT expedition, a detailed study of the neighboring Tsalka region was conducted, revealing parallels with Akhalkalaki production.4 Farmers like Grigori Karagezov note that the “Tsalka Potato” (or “Akhalkalaki Potato”) brand is a powerful marketing tool in itself, ensuring stable demand.4 However, to transition from subsistence farming to an industrial level, several systemic issues must be addressed:
- Mechanization: Low levels of automation in planting and harvesting processes increase production costs.4
- Seed Fund: An urgent need for professional systems to produce virus-free seed material.4
- Storage Infrastructure: A lack of modern warehouses leads to loss of product quality and an inability to regulate supply throughout the year.4
Strategic Partnership in Georgia: The Role of IOTO AGRO LLC
To address these challenges, the International Potato Tour chose IOTO AGRO LLC as its official regional partner in Georgia.3 This decision is based on the company’s high reputation in scientific agronomic consulting and the implementation of advanced plant nutrition technologies.3
Technological Support for Farmers
IOTO AGRO LLC acts as a bridge between global innovations and the practical needs of Georgian farmers. Their key areas of activity correlate directly with the efficiency improvement goals in Akhalkalaki:
- Comprehensive Soil Diagnostics: Moving from intuitive fertilizer application to science-based fertility management.3
- Crop Nutrition Management: Developing feeding programs that minimize plant stress and maximize marketable yields.3
- Innovative Crop Protection: Providing access to the latest drugs and methods for pathogen control, which is critical for seed crops in high-altitude conditions.3
The partnership with IOTO AGRO LLC allows Georgian producers to integrate into the global IPT knowledge exchange network, opening access to international agronomic expertise and crop protection strategies.3
2026 Expedition: Goals, Objectives, and Expected Results
The Spring 2026 IPT expedition to Georgia and Turkey sets ambitious goals that go beyond mere information gathering.3 It is a stage for the practical implementation of “Potato Diplomacy.”
Key Expedition Goals:
- Field Research and Audit: In-depth study of existing approaches to cultivation, storage, and processing in the South Caucasus.3
- Technology Transfer: Organizing meetings between Akhalkalaki farmers and international experts to discuss breeding, irrigation, and plant protection.
- Media Support for the Region: Documenting the achievements of Georgian farmers in 4K video and analytical articles for the global POTATOES NEWS audience, increasing the region’s investment attractiveness.5
- Creation of a Video Encyclopedia: Including Akhalkalaki case studies in the overall IPT database, which already contains over 50 deep success stories from around the world.1
Integration into the Global Agenda
Expedition participants will be able to learn from the experiences of other countries. For example, the “Potato India” project demonstrated the effectiveness of AI-driven graders and drone monitoring.1 In Kazakhstan, the project documented the work of biotechnological laboratories (such as the Livingstone center) specializing in the rapid multiplication of promising varieties.1 These technologies are a direct response to the challenges faced by farmers in Akhalkalaki.
Mathematical Rationale for Modernizing Potato Production
To evaluate the efficiency of implementing new technologies proposed within the IPT framework, it is advisable to use a Return on Investment calculation (). Let us consider a model for transitioning from traditional yields to the targets of 2026.
Let be the base yield (15 t/ha) and
be the yield after implementing soil diagnostics and high-quality seeds (25 t/ha).6 Let
be the selling price per ton. Let
be the cost of traditional technology, and
be the additional investment in the IPT technology package.
Formula for Profit per Hectare ():
Investment Efficiency Coefficient:
With a yield increase of 66%, even significant investments in high-quality seed material and monitoring systems pay off within the first season, considering export potential and the possibility of obtaining added value through product calibration and packaging.4
Global Context and Comparative Analysis
The International Potato Tour covers key production regions, allowing for comparative analysis and the adoption of best practices.2
| Region / Country | Key Innovation (per IPT data) | Focus in 2026 |
| Georgia (Akhalkalaki) | High-altitude seed potential 4 | Modernizing storage and processing 3 |
| India | AI sorting and drones 1 | Processing into French fries (Agristo) 12 |
| Kazakhstan | Biotech labs 1 | Forming a hub for chipping varieties 2 |
| Egypt | Post-harvest loss control 2 | Record exports and variety replacement 13 |
| Pakistan | Valley irrigation systems 1 | Trade corridor development 10 |
India’s experience is particularly interesting for Georgia in the context of developing the processing sector. Interviews with representatives of Agristo NV within the IPT showed that the global frozen fries market is in a “reset” phase, and new players with low production costs and high raw material quality have every chance of success.12 Akhalkalaki, with its unique climate, could become a supplier of raw materials for such high-tech productions.
Socio-Economic Significance and the “Industry Radar”
Viktor Kovalev’s project pays significant attention to the social aspect. The film “Potato India” and other documentary initiatives are aimed at showing the “people behind the potato”—scientists, engineers, and farmers.1 This makes the industry attractive to a new generation of specialists and investors, which is a critical factor for the long-term development of Akhalkalaki.
Creating an “Industry Radar” allows farmers to react to market shocks in advance.1 For example, IPT data on record harvests in France in 2025, which did not lead to income growth due to structural problems, serve as an important lesson: growing gross yields without developing logistics and processing can become a “million-tonne trap”.13 For Georgian farmers, this means a need for diversification and searching for niche products, such as branded regional potatoes or products for deep processing.4
Call to Action: Joining the IPT Community
The International Potato Tour is a living, evolving organism whose strength lies in its participants.5 We invite all professionals in the Georgian potato industry—farmers, agronomists, traders, and equipment manufacturers—to become part of our global project.
Benefits of Participation and Subscription:
- Timely Information: Daily access to global industry news through the POTATOES NEWS platform.5
- Exclusive Analytics: Reports from IPT expeditions on the real state of affairs in the world’s largest potato-growing regions.2
- Networking: Opportunities for direct dialogue with leading global experts and finding partners for export or technological modernization.3
- Training: Access to video materials demonstrating the latest machinery in action and field test results for crop protection.
To always stay informed about the latest trends and receive up-to-date data on varieties, technologies, and market prices, we urge you to subscribe to our project and join us on social media. Your participation will help make the voice of Georgian potato farming heard on a global level.
Detailed information and subscription are available at: https://potatoes.news/category/ipt/ 2
Conclusion
This presentation in Akhalkalaki is not just a showcase of the tour; it is an invitation to co-author the future of the global potato industry. Georgia has every chance to become not just a regional leader but a vital link in the global supply chain for high-quality potatoes. By using the tools of “Potato Diplomacy,” relying on the scientific approach of IOTO AGRO LLC, and the media power of POTATOES NEWS, we can together overcome any challenges—from climate change to market volatility.
The future of potato farming depends not only on the harvest in a specific field in Akhalkalaki but on how effectively we can exchange knowledge and technology within a unified global community. Join the International Potato Tour—together we are creating Industry 2.0.
Source
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