China's sets out on a mission to protect potatoes from climate change
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Chinese scientists are working urgently to safeguard potato crops - a critical food source worldwide - against the growing threat of climate change.
Research conducted at the International Potato Center (CIP) in Beijing highlights the impact of rising temperatures on potato yields, prompting a nationwide push for climate-resilient agricultural solutions.
A study published in the Climate Smart Agriculture journal, led by molecular biologist Li Jieping, revealed that potatoes exposed to temperatures 3°C higher than current averages in Hebei and Inner Mongolia experienced a drastic yield reduction of over 50%. Potatoes grown under simulated future climate conditions weighed less than half of standard varieties, signaling potential food security challenges for China, the world’s largest potato producer.
Li noted that while higher temperatures accelerated tuber growth, they compromised the size and weight of the potatoes, posing a serious threat to food supplies.
In Inner Mongolia, farmers are grappling with climate-related disruptions, including erratic rainfall, delayed harvests, and worsening crop diseases. Wang Shiyi, a manager at Hebei Jiuen Agricultural Development Company, reported that heavy rains this year hindered harvesting efforts.
Meanwhile, Li Xuemin, general manager of Yakeshi Senfeng Potato Industry Company, expressed concern over the increasing resistance of diseases like late blight to conventional control methods. This disease thrives in the warmer, more humid conditions associated with climate change.
Chinese researchers are turning to advanced agricultural techniques to combat these challenges.
At a research facility in Yanqing, Beijing, scientists are using aeroponics and genetic studies to cultivate heat-tolerant and disease-resistant potato varieties. Li Jieping emphasized that changes in farming practices, such as shifting planting seasons or relocating to higher altitudes, may become necessary within the next decade.
Without immediate intervention, researchers warn that rising global temperatures could severely impact farmers’ livelihoods and potato prices, further straining food security.
