Vietnam’s Lam Dong Department of Agriculture and Environment has approved the export of 27,952 potato seeds to India for scientific research, covering 23 breeding lines developed or maintained by the Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center.

The Center, which operates under the Southern Institute of Agricultural Science, is based in Lam Dong and conducts potato breeding, germplasm conservation and seed-production research.

According to the export permit, the shipment comprises between 60 and 3,936 seeds from each of the 23 Solanum tuberosum breeding lines. The material is authorised to leave Vietnam through Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

The permit is valid for 12 months from its date of issue and applies only to the approved consignment. The material is intended exclusively for scientific research rather than commercial use.

Research involving the breeding lines is expected to provide further information on their performance and adaptability under different ecological conditions. Such evaluation can support potato breeding work focused on characteristics including yield, quality and resilience to pests, diseases and changing climatic conditions.

The permit also specifies that the plant material is not subject to state quality inspection. However, it must be used solely for the authorised research activities and managed in a way that does not adversely affect soil, water resources, biodiversity or human health.

The Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center is responsible for the management and use of the material and must comply with Vietnam’s plant protection and quarantine requirements during the export process.

Following completion of the export, the Center is required to report the outcome and use of the plant material to the Lam Dong Department of Agriculture and Environment through the provincial plant production and protection authority.