Universal Robina Corp. (URC) is testing seven potato varieties in Benguet as part of its Sustainable Potato Program, which has distributed more than 600 tons of seed potatoes to more than 1,000 farmers across the Cordillera Administrative Region, Bukidnon, and Davao.

The distributed seed potatoes were valued at more than US$700,000. URC estimates that they have yielded about 34,000 tons of potatoes over eight years, generating an estimated US$23.8 million in farm-gate value. Participating farmers earned an average annual income of around US$5,250.

In Benguet, 216 members of the United Potato Producers of Benguet and Mountain Province Inc. received 54 tons of Granola seed potatoes in April. The crop was planted in May and harvested in August. Part of the harvest was retained as seed for the next growing cycle, while the remainder was marketed.

Trial plots were also planted with Hilite Russet, Russet Burbank, Eva, Mystere, Kennebec, Red Norland, and Satina to assess alternatives to Granola.

According to URC, the Sustainable Potato Program contributed to a 4 per cent increase in national potato output during its first five years.

Since 2022, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation has also awarded scholarships to 18 children of participating farmers, eight of whom have graduated.