2023 International Potato Center Annual Report highlights the achievements of the past year and looks at how these can be extended in the future
THE past year has seen many advancements in potato research according to the newly-released annual report by The International Potato Center (CIP).
In the report, entitled ‘Future-Focused 2030: Science for a Sustainable Tomorrow’, Board Chair Helen Hambly Odame and Director General Simon Heck state that 2023 was a year of significant milestones for CIP, with key achievements in several areas critical to global food security and sustainability.
In terms of varieties, CIP has made good progress in enhancing genetic diversity to help develop more resilient crop varieties. Its breeding programs successfully introduced several new potato varieties that are more resistant to diseases, pests, and the impacts of climate change, and these are being introduced to smallholder farms in vulnerable regions, the report states.
The report also highlights CIP’s role in advancing crop improvement through research in genomics and biotechnology. This has enabled development of potato varieties with enhanced yield potential, reduced input requirements and improved resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
The promotion of regenerative growing methods that restore soil health, increase biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions has also been a key focus over the past year.
CIP’s regenerative agriculture initiatives include promoting agroecological practices, such as crop rotation and intercropping, which enhance soil fertility and reduce the need for chemical inputs. These methods are also economically viable for smallholder farmers.
Via targeted capacity-building programs, CIP has provided growers with the tools and knowledge they need to increase productivity and income while helping communities build resilience against challenges posed by climate change and market volatility.
The organisation has also developed storage solutions that reduce food waste and stabilise food supplies.
In the coming year, CIP will be looking to extend these initiatives and forge new partnerships to address the global challenges of food security, climate change, and sustainable development. The report calls for increased research collaboration amongst governments, research institutions and the private sector to ensure findings are used to the benefit of all.
