By Peter VanderZaag
Remembering a passionate potato scientist and a wonderful friend.
Dr. Kaiyun Xie, PhD passed away suddenly on May 3, 2018 in China. He leaves behind his wife, Yuqing Wang; his daughter, Yuan Xie; many colleagues and friends.
Kaiyun had a very interesting career as a student and as a scientist with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (2000-2007); with the International Potato Center as Chief Liaison Scientist (2007-2017) and with Xisen Potato Industry group of companies as Chief Technology Director as well as the Director of the National Potato Engineering Research Center since early 2017.
Dr Xie was an international advisor to the World Potato Congress since 2015. He played a leading role in organizing the World Potato Congress in Yanqing in July 2015.
Kaiyun was passionate about the role of the potato in providing food security for China. This showed through all the activities that he was involved with. He was a strong promoter of improved genetics through obtaining germplasm from many sources, particularly from CIP in Peru and utilizing it in breeding programs across China. Kaiyun was also a strong promoter of seed potato production, particularly through aeroponics. He spent much time promoting and improving the technology so that more and more enterprises could effectively and profitably utilize it.
Dr Xie was also a key promoter of the China Potato Congress which he helped launch and capably supported during its formative years until now. This is now the premier annual potato event in China. Kaiyun was known to lead from behind. He never took center stage. His character was highly appreciated by all in China as well as outside of China. Hence his role with the WPC was also invaluable as he provided an excellent link between China and the global potato community.
Kaiyun was a practical person both in his research work and in living life. Travelling with Kaiyun was always comfortable and efficient because of his excellent ability to organize every detail. He had friends in every place we went.
His legacy will live on in many ways, including the cookbook he co-edited: “How the Chinese Eat Potatoes”with over 300 recipes.
