Potato production will shift north as global warming accelerates

Global potato production is increasingly threatened by accelerating climate change, which is expected to force farmers to move potato cultivation to higher latitudes and mountainous regions, while breeders at the International Potato Center will need to accelerate the development of heat- and drought-tolerant varieties.

This was reported by PotatoPro.

According to scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the rate of global warming has accelerated to 0.35°C per decade over the past ten years, compared with 0.2°C per decade between 1970 and 2015. Because potatoes perform best under moderate temperatures, higher temperatures during tuber formation reduce yields and lower the quality of potatoes used for processing.

Researchers and plant breeders are already working on ways to adapt the industry, which produces more than 380 mln tons of potatoes annually. Breeding programs are focusing on developing varieties capable of maintaining stable yields under water scarcity and increased disease pressure.

“If global warming continues to accelerate, the deployment of climate-smart technologies and more resilient production systems will have to move even faster,” the researchers said.

In addition, potato production will require new approaches to precision irrigation and crop protection, as aphids and other virus vectors are expected to expand their range and remain active for longer periods.