Orion, Vietnamese University Partner for Development and Production of New Potato Varieties

Orion Corporation has signed a deal with the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) to jointly develop and produce new varieties of potatoes. The starchy root vegetable will be used for the Seoul-based snack and confectionery company's potato chips.

Orion unveiled its latest partnership deal with VNUA on Friday, Jan. 26. Along with the agricultural university, the company also agreed to a strategic partnership with the Institute of Agriculture and Biology (IAB), a division under the Vietnam National University of Agriculture. They will work together for potato production and supply of seeds.

New Breed of Potatoes

According to The Korea Economic Daily, Orion and VNUA's primary goal in cooperating is to develop new kinds of potatoes that will grow well in the Vietnamese environment. They also aim to produce high-quality crops that can increase productivity.

Since Orion first built its plant in Ho Chi Minh City 18 years ago, it has gradually expanded its presence in the country. Korea's Big Data News further reported that as part of the agreement, the partners will produce, develop, supply, and work on quality control for raw crops and their seeds for the next 10 years.

Orion's Potato Contract Farming in Vietnam

Orion has been manufacturing various snack and confectionery products for over half a century, but it only started producing high-quality potato snacks in 2008. To make its products, it has been sourcing its potatoes in Vietnam, guaranteeing a stable income for its partner Vietnamese farmers through contract farming.

It was revealed that Orion has been providing more support to the farmers as part of its social contribution activities. Since 2016, the company has been operating the "Vietnam Hometown Potato Support Project" to help increase the income of potato farmers by improving their productivity.

"Through this agreement, we expect to lay the foundation for stably securing good raw materials and at the same time contribute to the development of Vietnamese agriculture and improvement of farm income," an official of Orion said in a statement. "As a leading company in the local market, we provide delicious and high-quality products to consumers. We will continue our efforts to provide and make a practical contribution to the local community."

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