Strengthening the potato production system in response to climate change

Apply potato breeding processes in the Andean region to obtain early maturing and drought-tolerant cultivars, to reduce climate vulnerability and contribute to food security.

Context of the story

Climate variability is one of the most severe challenges for the agricultural sector and food production, driving the need for resilient systems and sustainable practices. In Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia, smallholder agriculture faces issues such as water scarcity and limited access to irrigation technologies, affecting potato production. Additionally, in the Andean region, scarce precipitation, rising temperatures, and high solar radiation extend droughts, negatively impacting food security and farmers' economy. Increasing temperatures shift potato crops to higher altitudes due to the proliferation of diseases and weeds, endangering fragile environments with unpredictable rainfall patterns.

Technical cooperation to strengthen genetic breeding programs in the Andean region, reduce vulnerability of family farming to climate change, and promote food security for communities

The implemented initiative

The Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia consortium, along with the actors of the potato production chain in the Andean Region, aims to reduce vulnerability to climate change by incorporating new families and advanced clones, with early maturity and resilience to drought, into breeding programs to promote sustainability in food production and enhance food security. For this purpose, advanced clones identified by the International Potato Center (CIP) will be evaluated in different environments. Participatory genetic improvement programs will be strengthened for material selection and future cultivar adoption. Additionally, a regional genetic breeding platform will be created to promote the use of standardized phenotyping and genotyping method.

Strategies for the evaluation and identification of early maturing and drought-tolerant materials aimed at ensuring sustainable production and food security

The technological solution

The project aims to reduce the economic and food security risks for small and medium potato producers in the Andean region, who are affected by climate variability.

Participatory selection processes will be implemented, involving both men and women in the evaluation of materials adapted to the agroclimatic conditions of each country, with special attributes for consumption, thereby promoting their adoption by farmers.

The incorporation of these new elite lines and advanced materials will reduce production costs by eliminating the need for irrigation infrastructure and decreasing the use of labor and agrochemicals.

The goal is to provide farmers with greater harvest security, ensuring that potato production is at least 1.5-3% higher than current cultivars in conditions of low precipitation.

This initiative is establishing a communication platform to promote the generation of knowledge, standardized methodologies, and the exchange of regional experiences.

Between 2005-15, extreme weather events cost developing countries an estimated USD 96 billion in lost agricultural production. Without action, potato yields could fall up to 32% by 2060.

International Potato Center, 2021

Participating countries

Type of project

Value chain

Results

*Each country has imported between 30 and 31 advanced in vitro potato clones, selected for their outstanding agronomic traits. Additionally, the Central University of Ecuador (UCE) imported 17 families in the form of botanical seed.
*Currently, each country is multiplying the material with the goal of obtaining enough tubers to establish observation and evaluation plots under drought conditions.
*A communication platform for genetic improvement, involving 26 project members, has been established to promote the use of common methodologies across countries and the exchange of regional experiences.
*Two virtual workshops have been held to train human talent in strategic areas of the project, targeting researchers, students, and stakeholders in the potato value chain.
*Two in-person workshops were conducted to engage with farming communities in Ecuador and Bolivia.