China’s “King of Potatoes” visit Scotland to build commercial and scientific collaborations between the two countries

China’s self-proclaimed King of Potatoes has flown to Scotland to meet top potato producers, processors, scientists and Government crop certification experts with a view to building commercial and scientific collaborations between the two countries. Just two weeks after China elevated the humble spud to staple-food status, Mr Liang Xisen and his general manager Dr Hu toured potato fields in Angus, met senior scientists at the James Hutton Institute (JHI) and attended the industry’s flagship Potatoes in Practice event on the outskirts of Dundee. Through an interpreter, Mr Liang said a memorandum of understanding was already in place between JHI’s commercial arm, James Hutton Ltd (JHL), and his company, Xisen Potato Industry Group which is based in Shandong province. JHI is conducting Scottish potato variety trials for the company and if they are successful, other Scottish varieties are expected to be sent to China. More