Batata-Inglesa: The Second-Largest Horticultural Crop in Brazil — Strategies for High Productivity

The potato is the second vegetable by production and consumption volume in Brazil — with more than 3 million tons per year and Minas Gerais accounting for more than 40% of the national volume. It is the crop that employs the most in Brazilian horticulture and one of the most price-volatile, creating opportunities for those who produce efficiently and have access to storage.

The premium potato market — washed and packaged potato, baby potato, organic potato and colored potato (purple, yellow) — grows 20% per year in high-end retail. The producer who adds value with cleaning, sorting and packaging captures a price much higher than the conventional bulk product.

When the potato is grown with certified seed, an adequate storage system and differentiated packaging in potato production, we drastically improve the final product quality, crop productivity and the producer's profitability. This technical combination ensures greater health, vigor and uniformity from planting through post-harvest. This segment can contribute significantly to job and income generation in Brazil.

Join our strategic actions to implement the best solutions in the Brazilian agricultural sector. Our activities, studies and advanced research cover 20 value chains and the 255 segments of the national agribusiness — from the grain chain to sustainable extractivism, including horticulture, fruit growing, livestock and much more.

The series Inovação Para o Brasil Produzir Mais was developed precisely to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and worldwide, in the 255 segments of the agricultural sector — with accessible technical language, updated data and a focus on practical results for producers, suppliers, policymakers and marketers.

1. Opportunities for Small Rural Producers

How to produce quality potatoes and maximize return with storage and premium presentation

Potatoes sold during the off-season (June to September) are worth 40 to 80% more than in-season potatoes. The producer who has a cold room or a water tank with adequate ventilation sells in the off-season and captures that difference — it is the highest-return strategy without additional production cost.

✔ Certified seed of cultivars: Ágata, Asterix, Innovator, Atlantic — quality defined by the material

✔ Cold storage room — essential to sell in the off-season at a price 40 to 80% higher

✔ Washed potato packaged in 5kg mesh bags — premium of 30 to 50% over dirty potatoes

✔ Baby potato (size 25 to 45mm) — premium niche of R$ 5 to R$ 12/kg in restaurants

✔ PRONAF and MAPA lines for certified seeds and cold rooms

The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for the Small Rural Producer presents, in detail, the best solutions for the segment and the other 254 segments of Brazilian agribusiness — focusing on method, cost reduction and progressive growth from Agro 1.0 to Agro 6.0. Access now for R$ 50 →

2. Opportunities for Micro and Small Local Suppliers

Which equipment and services the potato chain demands

Quality potatoes require cold storage rooms, washers and packing machines — investments that multiply the product price without increasing production cost.

Solutions by engineering area applied to the segment

Our activities, studies and advanced research cover six major areas of engineering — and the chain demands solutions in all of them:

Electrical and Computer Engineering — cold rooms with temperature and humidity control for potatoes;

Electronic Engineering and IoT — temperature, humidity and CO₂ sensors in potato storage rooms;

Control and Automation Engineering — automatic potato washers and graders by size;

Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering — mesh bag and tray packers for washed potatoes;

Renewable Energy Engineering — solar for high-altitude cold rooms in MG and SP;

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — inventory management and decision-making for exit from storage based on market price.

✔ Cold rooms for potatoes — storage of 3 to 6 months with quality

✔ Potato washers and graders by size

✔ Mesh bag and tray packers for premium potatoes

✔ Temperature and humidity sensors for storage rooms

✔ Technical assistance in certified seed and potato management

The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for the Micro and Small Local Supplier maps, segment by segment, business opportunities — focusing on IoT, energy, automation and specialized technical services. Access now for R$ 150 →

3. Opportunities for Municipal Governments

How the municipality can support potatoes and create a collective storage hub

Potatoes are the vegetable with the greatest impact on the cost of living for Brazilian families — and the municipality that supports collective storage stabilizes the local price and increases producer income during the off-season.

✔ Municipal collective cold room for potatoes from family farmers

✔ PNAE with locally washed potatoes for school meals

✔ Program to promote certified seed with subsidy or credit

✔ Municipal IDM: productivity per hectare and percentage stored as indicators

✔ Potato Festival — regional identity and gastronomic tourism

The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments presents the step-by-step for secretaries and municipal managers to implement effective public policies for the 255 segments of agribusiness. Access now for R$ 450 →

4. Opportunities for Small Agricultural Product Retailers

How potatoes generate business for distributors, processors and the premium market

The packaged organic baby potato for restaurants is the product with the greatest price differential in the chain — sold for R$ 8 to R$ 15/kg when conventional potatoes are worth R$ 2 to R$ 4/kg. A restaurant that uses roasted baby potato on its menu has a differential that justifies the higher price of the dish.

For processors, artisanal frozen french fries — artisan shoestring potato and premium chips — are the fastest-growing products in the snack market. A 100g package of artisan chips with regional flavors is worth R$ 15 to R$ 25.

Products with high commercial potential

The main derivative products from this segment for retail and local foodservice:

Washed potato packaged 5kg— premium of 30 to 50% over dirty potatoes;

Organic baby potato— restaurants; R$ 8 to R$ 15/kg;

Artisan potato chips— high-growth premium snack;

Purple and yellow potatoes— growing premium niche;

Artisan shoestring potato— premium topping for hamburgers;

Potatoes for PNAE— guaranteed institutional purchase.

Profiles of retailers and their specific opportunities

✔ Distributors: washed and packaged potatoes for supermarket chains

✔ Restaurants: organic baby potato on the premium menu

✔ Processors: chips and artisan shoestring potato for snacks

✔ Supermarkets: washed and packaged potatoes vs. dirty bulk potatoes

✔ Burger joints: artisan shoestring potato as a premium topping

✔ Digital platforms: organic colored high-altitude potatoes

Growth strategies for the local retailer

The producer who washes, grades and packages the potatoes on the farm eliminates the wholesale hub and captures a 30 to 50% premium with an investment of R$ 5,000 to R$ 15,000 in a washer and packer. It is the best ROI available in the potato chain without changing variety or production technology.

Pronampe and PRONAF cover cold rooms and equipment. SEBRAE subsidizes packaging and access to premium retail.

The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for the Small Agricultural Product Retailer maps 30 retailer profiles and details growth opportunities across all 255 agribusiness segments. Access now for R$ 150 →

Innovation and Technology Network

By purchasing any e-book from the series, you become a member of our Innovation and Technology Network. Members who form groups can organize in-person strategic planning events to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and worldwide. The minimum number of members varies according to the group's profile:

✔ Small Rural Producers: 100 members

✔ Micro and Small Supplier Companies: 33 members

✔ Municipal Governments: 10 members

✔ Small Agricultural Product Retailers: 33 members

⭐ Special offer: I will provide a 100% discount on the value of my hourly fee for the first 10 events held in Brazil, scheduled and confirmed by March 31, 2026.

Sincerely,

Ivo Alves

CEO · Master in Electrical and Computer Engineering · Specialist in Innovation and Technology Project Management

Teaching experience: IFPB and UFRN · 38 years of experience in Engineering