Water shortages and shrinking expanses of farmable land along with a growing population have necessitated accessing alternative food supplies.

Spuds are less reliant on water than rice to grow and contain more calories per hectare cultivated.

Fast-growing varieties can also be yielded in-between rice planting seasons.

To cater to the Asian market, Chinese innovators are looking at how potatoes can be used to make more popular products like buns, noodles and cakes.

China has only one-tenth of the world's arable land to feed one-fifth of the globe's population.

By 2030 the growing nation is expected to reach 1.5 billion and will need to produce an additional 100 million tonnes of food each year.