Cognizant of its resources and expertise as a leading Filipino food manufacturer, Universal Robina Corporation (URC) developed a Sustainable Potato Program as a CSR initiative in capacity building for local potato farmers. This is to help them meet nationwide demand for table potatoes while at the same time help improve their livelihood.

The main strategy of the program is to identify a more resilient and high-yield potato variety that is suited to the Philippine climate and agricultural conditions. Through close partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), URC imported and distributed a total of 135 metric tons (MT) of free seeds of Granola potato variety from Canada to more than 200 farmer beneficiaries in eight potato farming cooperatives in key provinces and regions of Benguet, Cordillera, Bukidnon and Davao.

This new type of potato crop has enabled the farmer-beneficiaries to consistently double their harvest and potentially increase their profit margins.