A team of students from Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) explored the full value chain of the potato industry during a seven-day summer field research program from July 4 to 10.
Led by Professor Cai Xingkui, a researcher specializing in potato breeding, the team visited a potato breeding and cultivation base in Enshi, Hubei province, to study breeding, seed potato production, processing, and marketing.
At an agricultural cooperative in Xianfeng county, the students learned how research institutions and enterprises collaborate to promote the potato industry. Automated production lines, drone-based crop protection, and online sales platforms demonstrated how technology is driving the modernization of potato production.
The team also participated in a number of field experiments, collecting and evaluating potato resources, conducting taste tests, and preserving samples for subsequent RNA analysis. Through hands-on research, students gained a deeper understanding of the work involved in developing high-quality potato varieties.
To share their knowledge with the public, the team created a science outreach video and a short play explaining tissue culture, virus detection, and virus-free seed potato production.
The practice program connected agricultural research with industrial development, helping students understand how scientific innovation can support rural vitalization and agricultural modernization.

Team members visit an automated intelligent potato sorting system. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]

Students collect samples for potato germplasm research. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]

Team members learn techniques for protecting potato flowers during breeding experiments. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]