As demand for both fresh and processed potatoes continues to grow in Taiwan, a major step toward self-sufficiency has been made with the official release of a new, high-performing variety: Tainong No. 4. Developed by the Chiayi Agricultural Experiment Station over several years of research and field testing, this potato variety was formally launched to the market in March 2025, after obtaining plant variety rights in April 2022.
A Strategic Crop with High Demand and Heavy Imports
Potatoes are a vital root crop during Taiwan’s autumn-winter season, with around 2,500 hectares under cultivation. Despite this, Taiwan imports approximately 35,000 metric tons of fresh potatoes and an additional 100,000 metric tons of frozen and processed products annually. This equates to over NT$6 billion (USD 190 million) in imports, indicating a clear gap between domestic production and market demand.
By introducing new, resilient, and versatile varieties like Tainong No. 4, Taiwan seeks to boost local production, enhance food security, and create opportunities for both farmers and the food processing industry.
What Makes Tainong No. 4 Unique?
Tainong No. 4 was developed to address several limitations of older varieties such as ‘Kennebec’ and ‘Atlantic,’ which have shown vulnerabilities to late blight and extreme weather conditions. Here are the standout features of the new variety:
- High dry matter content (22%) and low reducing sugar levels (0.8 mg/g), ideal for chip and fry processing
- Blanching resistance – chips remain light-colored and crispy after frying
- Excellent texture for mashed and stewed dishes, with robust flavor and resistance to disintegration
- White skin, shallow eyes, making it visually appealing and easy to process
- Low glycoalkaloid content (12 ppm), meeting national food safety standards
These characteristics make it a dual-purpose variety suitable for both foodservice and home consumption.
Strong Agronomic Traits and Stress Tolerance
Tainong No. 4 also delivers on agronomic performance. With a growth period of 110–120 days, the variety produces 30 metric tons per hectare under trial conditions, with over 70% of tubers reaching medium to large sizes.
In comparison trials:
- Late blight resistance was significantly higher than standard varieties
- Flood tolerance was markedly better: while Kennebec and Atlantic suffered severe wilting and yellowing after heavy rainfall, Tainong No. 4 remained vigorous
This makes it especially suitable for Taiwan’s subtropical and often unpredictable weather, reducing the risks of crop loss and improving harvest stability.
Market Launch and Industry Engagement
The launch of Tainong No. 4 was marked by a demonstration event organized by the Chiayi Agricultural Experiment Station, with participation from farmers, seed companies, and food industry representatives. The variety has already been licensed to two seed enterprises, and seed tuber production has been ongoing for the past two years to ensure quality planting material for commercial-scale rollout.
By combining breeding innovation, supply chain collaboration, and extension support, this initiative hopes to expand the cultivated area of Tainong No. 4 and elevate the overall competitiveness of Taiwan’s potato sector.
Tainong No. 4 is a well-timed solution to Taiwan’s growing potato needs. With excellent resistance traits, strong yield potential, and suitability for both fresh markets and industrial processing, it stands as a powerful tool to reduce import dependence, increase farm profitability, and support the domestic food industry. For agronomists, farmers, and food processors alike, this new variety represents an exciting new chapter in the modernization of Taiwan’s potato production.
