Lima/New Delhi/Ahmedabad – 11 December 2025 — The International Potato Center (CIP) and HyFarm, the agri-business unit of HyFun Foods, have announced a strategic partnership to advance India’s processing-grade potato sector through scientific collaboration, technology exchange, and farmer-focused innovation. Formalized through a newly signed Inter-institutional Framework Collaboration Agreement, the partnership establishes a strong foundation for research cooperation, capacity building, and climate-smart agricultural development.
“Partnering with CIP strengthens HyFarm’s commitment to empowering farmers with better varieties, better technologies, and better market opportunities,” said Mr. Soundararadjane Santhanakrishnan, Chief Executive Officer of HyFarm. “This collaboration will boost India’s potato R&D ecosystem and help us build one of the world’s most efficient, future-ready potato supply chains.”
CIP, a CGIAR research center and global leader in potato, sweetpotato, and root and tuber crop innovation, brings more than five decades of science-driven expertise across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. HyFarm, one of India’s fastest-growing integrated potato enterprises, is pioneering a phygital (physical + digital) farming ecosystem that blends precision agriculture, traceability, soil intelligence, and regenerative practices to improve productivity and profitability for growers.
Together, the two organizations aim to accelerate varietal improvement, strengthen seed systems, and enhance climate resilience while supporting HyFarm’s long-term goal of engaging 30,000 farmers and procuring 1 million metric tonnes of potatoes annually by 2029.
Under the new collaboration, CIP and HyFarm will work jointly to advance India’s potato research and innovation landscape through coordinated scientific exchange, training, and joint research initiatives. The partnership will facilitate the exchange of germplasm and the development of improved potato varieties suited for processing and climate resilience; support the modernization of seed multiplication systems and integrated crop management practices; promote environmentally responsible cultivation methods; and expand opportunities for farmer education, laboratory support, and professional exchanges. The collaboration also includes joint studies on processing quality, climate adaptation, and sustainable intensification of potato-based agri-food systems, as well as cooperative resource mobilization for future projects.
“This collaboration represents a powerful combination between cutting-edge research and an ambitious, farmer-focused private-sector initiative,” said Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Country Manager–India & Interim Director, CIP South Asia Regional Center (CSARC). “By combining CIP’s scientific expertise with HyFarm’s innovation-driven value chain, we aim to accelerate varietal improvement, climate resilience, and sustainability for India’s potato farmers.”
About the International Potato Center (CIP)
Founded in 1971, CIP is a global research-for-development organization dedicated to improving livelihoods, nutrition, and climate resilience through innovations in potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. CIP is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, working with partners in more than 100 countries to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable agricultural development.
About HyFarm
HyFarm, the agri-business unit of HyFun Foods, is a leading enterprise in India’s processing-grade potato ecosystem. With operations across major potato-growing regions, HyFarm supports farmers through seed-to-shelf programs, buy-back systems, agronomic services, and technology-enabled farming. HyFarm aims to engage 30,000 farmers and procure 1 million MT of potatoes annually by 2029, contributing significantly to India’s potato processing and innovation landscape.