On April 17, 2025, the Department of Agricultural Environment in Vietnam organized a field workshop in Nong Cong District, in partnership with VietTrans Logistics and PepsiCo Vietnam Foods. The goal was to evaluate the performance of the FL2215 potato production model—an initiative aimed at building a localized supply chain of potatoes specifically for processing into snack foods.
FL2215, a potato variety imported and exclusively distributed by PepsiCo, is specially developed for industrial use. Known for its vigorous growth, high tuber density, and resistance to common diseases like late blight (Phytophthora infestans) and green wilt, it also shows strong resilience to aphids and fluctuating climatic conditions—an essential trait for tropical and subtropical farming regions.
Field Results: High Yields and Solid Profit Margins
In the 2024–2025 winter crop season, VietTrans Logistics coordinated with local farmers across the districts of Nong Cong, Gason, Hoang Hoa, and Quang Xuong to plant 47 hectares of FL2215 potatoes. Notably, in Truong Van Manh’s farm in Tuong Son village, 20 hectares were dedicated to this variety.
According to field data, after 100 days of growth, the average yield reached 23 tons per hectare—comparable to or higher than many global benchmarks for processing potatoes. The farm-gate purchase price offered by VietTrans was 7,500 VND/kg (approx. $0.30 USD), resulting in a net profit of 50–60 million VND per hectare (about $2,000–2,400 USD). Full mechanization during planting, cultivation, and harvesting significantly cut labor costs and improved efficiency, especially in the context of Vietnam’s increasing labor shortages in rural areas.
How FL2215 Compares Globally
Globally, top-performing processing varieties like Russet Burbank in the United States or Innovator in Europe typically yield between 20–35 tons per hectare under commercial conditions, depending on soil, climate, and technology. FL2215’s performance at 23 t/ha is competitive—especially given the regional climate and infrastructure constraints in northern Vietnam.
Further, disease resistance in FL2215 is a crucial advantage. According to the International Potato Center (CIP), late blight causes annual global losses of over $6 billion USD. Reducing reliance on fungicides with naturally resistant varieties like FL2215 offers both economic and environmental benefits.
Expansion Plans: From Pilot to Province-Wide Adoption
Thanks to the success of this pilot, VietTrans Logistics is planning to scale up the cultivation area to 200 hectares in the 2025–2026 winter season. The expansion aligns with Thanh Hoa province’s agricultural policy of promoting centralized, large-scale production clusters linked to industrial buyers—a system known locally as the “4-house” model: involving farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and government.
This strategic expansion is expected to further boost farmer incomes, stabilize potato supply for snack manufacturers like PepsiCo, and enhance Vietnam’s competitiveness in the growing Southeast Asian processed potato market.
The success of Vietnam’s FL2215 production model demonstrates how international collaboration, variety innovation, and localized mechanization can dramatically improve the performance and profitability of potato cultivation—especially for processing. With plans to quadruple the planting area next season, the FL2215 model could serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives across Asia and beyond.
