Facing an urgent need to protect food supplies, researchers in China are rushing to find a way to help potatoes adapt to the higher temperatures caused by climate change.

Beijing

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

Climate Crisis

Chinese scientists are engaged in an urgent effort to develop a potato strain resistant to the rising temperatures associated with climate change. Led by molecular biologist Li Jieping, the team conducted a study in Beijing examining the impact of increased temperatures on potato yields. The results were concerning, as potatoes grown in warmer conditions were significantly smaller in size, highlighting potential threats to future food production.

As the world's largest producer of potatoes, China is heavily invested in ensuring the resilience of this crucial crop. The study, conducted in collaboration with the Peru-based International Potato Center and the Chinese government, aimed to address vulnerabilities posed by climate change. The focus is on developing strategies before these impacts become unmanageable.

Chinese farmers are already experiencing the repercussions of climate change, including extreme weather events that affect potato production. Inner Mongolia has seen increased flooding, which disrupts harvesting processes and fosters the spread of diseases like late blight. Some farmers are adopting alternative growing methods, such as aeroponic systems, to adapt to these challenges. However, the search for a climate-resistant potato variety remains a central focus, as the current climate conditions continue to escalate the risk of crop diseases. Until such advancements are made, Li suggests strategic planting and geographical adjustments as interim measures.



China scientists rush to climate-proof potatoes

Driven by fear of climate change, Chinese molecular biologist Li Jieping and his team are racing to develop a super potato, one that is resistant to hotter temperatures. Their three-month study in Beijing looked at the effect of higher temperatures on crop yields. Typical tubers grown in northern Hebei and Inner Mongolia are often twice the size of a baseball. But the potatoes they ended up with in the study, some no bigger than a quail's egg, were an ominous sign for future food security. It's worrying because of the temperature changes. I'm using settings with a difference of an average 3 degrees Celsius, and this has had a big impact on yield. That means higher temperatures will notably reduce output of current potato varieties. Li's study under the Peru-based International Potato Center was done in partnership with the Chinese government. The country is the world's biggest potato producer, and the crop is crucial to global food security because of its high yield compared to other staple crops. But it's especially vulnerable to heat. This is why China's leadership is paying attention. The reality is climate change is happening, and they are aware that this could have a negative impact on agriculture. So they want to develop solutions and strategies before such impacts take hold. Farmers in China say they are already feeling the effects of extreme weather events. In Inner Mongolia, dozens of workers clutching white sacks rush to gather potatoes dug up from the soil before the next downpour. Manager Wang Shiyi says they're impacted by another event that has become more common due to climate change, flooding. The biggest challenge for potatoes this year has been the rainfall, which has caused several issues. For example, dehydration, early aging, and due to the excessive rainfall, various diseases have appeared, such as late blight and other issues like tuberose. Such problems have farmers increasingly turning to aeroponic systems where plants are grown without soil. But climate change also raises the risk of diseases such as blight, which thrives in warm and humid conditions. One manager of an Inner Mongolia-based seed potato producer says a warming climate has led to more aggressive strains of blight emerging, making it more difficult to control. Molecular biologist Li says Chinese farmers will need to make changes within the next decade. Until a super potato arrives, he says they should plant during spring instead of the start of summer, or move to higher altitudes to escape the heat.

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