IAC develops sweet potatoes that produce 4 times more and have an 'overdose' of vitamin A TV TEM/Reproduction A new variety of sweet potatoes developed in the interior of São Paulo promises to revolutionize rural and school nutrition due to its super performance and nutritional value. Named "IAC Dom Pedro II", the cultivar recorded a productivity 48% higher than that of Canadian sweet potatoes, which is the leader in cultivation in São Paulo. The tests occupy an area of ??half a hectare at the Agricultural Technology Production and Transfer Center (CPTTA), in São José do Rio Preto (SP). The food was developed by researchers from the Campinas Agronomic Institute (IAC) and was named in honor of the institute's founder. The nutritional table of the new variety largely surpassed market indices, becoming a strategic ally for human health. The "IAC Dom Pedro II" potato has 77 micrograms of beta-carotene per gram of fresh pulp. Most commercial varieties grown today register less than 1 microgram per gram. The compound is a powerful antioxidant that the human body transforms directly into vitamin A, an essential nutrient for development and immunity. According to Carla Zoccal, CPTTA coordinator at the Rio Preto Department of Agriculture, the variety has a considerably thinner skin, which reduces waste. The yield per area surprised the technical teams during harvest tests. Valdemir Antonio Peressin, scientific researcher at the IAC Horticulture Center, reported that the productive potential of the new sweet potato is around 80 tons per hectare. The volume is equivalent to four times more than the current average productivity in the state of São Paulo and is five times greater than the national production average for sweet potato cultivation. Although the experiments at CPTTA are still in their initial phase, the plan is to double the planting area in the coming months to generate interest among local farmers. The municipality's main objective is to introduce the "super potato" into the food supply of municipal schools and daycare centers. See the report shown on the program on 07/12/2026: IAC develops sweet potatoes that produce 4 times more and have an 'overdose' of vitamin A VIDEOS: see the reports from Nosso Campo Access + TV TEM | Programming | Videos | Social networks Check out the latest news from Nosso Campo