potato

On Monday November 30, 2020 an international conference took place about the future of the hybrid potato, called Potato Futures: Impact of hybrid varieties. In this one-day international conference a variety of Dutch and international speakers contributed to a diverse and interactive programme. Main subject to the conference was the potential and promises of the hybrid potato in response to the global challenges of food security, sustainability and climate change. »

This article states that good quality seed is almost universally considered a requirement for high productivity in all potato production systems. Potato seed sector development is thus a major concern of governments, researchers, development agencies, and civil society organizations. »

This research assessed the impact of the main factors contributing to yield improvement of potatoes: improved varieties, healthier seed, better stored seed, late blight disease control and fertilisation. It was shown that it is possible to double yields and economic returns under the growing conditions in Burundi when growers plant healthy pre-sprouted seed of a new variety and apply chemical fertilisers and fungicides. »

This article assesses to what extent positive selection over several seasons can reduce six different virus incidences in seed lots of different starting quality in Southwestern Uganda. The results clearly show that crops planted with seeds from positive selection have a reduced virus incidence compared to those from farmers’ selection when the treatments are applied over multiple (in this case, three) seasons, thereby reducing the level of secondary infection in the next-season crop. »

This study is an attempt to develop an innovation consultation approach for yield gap assessment in sub-Saharan Africa, based on syngergies between modelling techniques and historical non-published data of potato experiments. Poor quality seed and bacterial wilt were the main yield gap drivers. »

The Applied Research Fund project “Strengthening Agribusiness Ethics, Quality standards and ICT Usage in Uganda’s Value Chains (AGRI-QUEST)” has published a documentary which shows the progress of the project implementation. »