Crop Trust 33d ago

Modern potatoes come from a narrow genetic base, and pests, diseases and climate pressures are evolving fast. In East Africa, this puts farmers and food security at risk. This first episode of the UNTAMED: Potato series explores how scientists are tapping into the rich potato diversity of the Andes, the crop’s center of origin, to breed new, climate-resilient varieties. With nearly 5,000 varieties conserved in the International Potato Center’s genebank in Peru, including wild relatives with traits like heat tolerance, drought resilience and pest resistance, this “genetic memory” is helping shape the future of farming. Through the Crop Trust’s BOLD project, this diversity is being used in breeding programs and field trials in Kenya and Uganda, supporting farmers with potatoes adapted for a changing climate. #Potato #CropDiversity #FoodSecurity #ClimateResilience #Agriculture #BOLDproject #Genebanks