A partnership involving the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Vietnam (PSAV), the National Agricultural Extension Centre, PepsiCo and Syngenta is building a more sustainable potato value chain, linking farmer livelihoods with regenerative agriculture and lower emissions.
Connecting the value chain
According to the Field Crops and Food Crops Research Institute, northern provinces cultivate about 15,000-18,000 hectares of potatoes, producing 250,000-320,000 tonnes. The sector still faces constraints in scale, seed quality, mechanisation and processing supply.
PepsiCo develops sourcing areas and market outlets, while Syngenta provides crop science solutions. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Centre, said the model's value lies in connecting policy, markets, science and extension services.
PepsiCo began sourcing potatoes in Lam Dong in 2008 with four households. From 2019, collaboration with Syngenta and other partners introduced water-saving irrigation, nutrient management, mechanisation, drones, weather sensors and digital tools.
By 2025, the sourcing area exceeded 2,000 hectares per year, involving more than 2,000 households and around 6,000 training attendances. Average yields reached 23-26 tonnes per hectare, peaking at 58 tonnes in Lam Dong. Yields are reportedly two to three times conventional levels.
The model also saves around 3,800 m³ of water per hectare, cuts water for mixing crop protection products in drone spraying to one-tenth, has collected over 5,000kg of used packaging and has reduced emissions by around 9%.
“A sustainable supply chain must begin with sustainable farmer livelihoods,” said Ngo Quang Nhat, Senior Director, Supply Chain, PepsiCo Foods Vietnam.
Launching Harvesting Potential
At the 2026 “Developing a Sustainable Potato Value Chain” roundtable in Thanh Hoa, more than 150 delegates discussed soil health, efficient water, fertiliser and input use, data-driven tracking of yields, costs and emissions, and rice-potato rotation.
“This is more than a sourcing area. It is a production system that creates more value per hectare, uses resources more efficiently and reduces environmental impact,” said Nguyen Thanh Tuan, Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Syngenta Vietnam.
The event launched Harvesting Potential, funded by the PepsiCo Foundation and implemented by CARE in Vietnam with PSAV, the National Agricultural Extension Centre and other partners. The project aims to strengthen the climate resilience of smallholder households, particularly women.
With a USD 1 million budget for 2026-2028 in Daklak, Gia Lai and Thanh Hoa, the project will directly support 13,600 households and indirectly benefit 73,400 people. Its pillars are climate-resilient regenerative agriculture; access to inputs, finance, technology and markets; and replicating effective models.
Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of PSAV and Director General of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said the ministry would scale practical public-private initiatives with partners.
A potato value-chain pilot in Thanh Hoa will test and refine the model before wider scale-up. Lessons will inform PSAV's policy recommendations to the ministry.
