Climate: Potato crops will shift to higher latitudes due to global warming.

Global potato production is threatened by accelerating global warming, which will force farmers to move their crops to higher latitudes and mountainous regions, and plant breeders at the International Potato Center to urgently develop varieties resistant to heat and drought. 

According to scientists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, in the last decade, the rate of warming has increased to 0.35°C every 10 years, compared to 0.2°C for the period between 1970 and 2015. Since potatoes grow best at moderate temperatures, an increase in temperature during tuber formation reduces yield and deteriorates the quality of the raw material for processing. 

Scientists and breeders are already looking for ways to adapt the industry, which exceeds 380 million tons annually. In particular, experts are developing programs to create varieties capable of providing stable yields under conditions of water scarcity and high disease incidence.

“If global warming continues to accelerate, efforts to implement climate-optimized technologies and more resilient production systems will have to move even faster,” the researchers emphasize.

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