Grown under conditions simulating predicted higher temperatures by the end of the century, potatoes are a concerning indicator of future food security. Weighing 136 grams, this potato is less than half the weight of a typical potato in China, where the most common varieties are often twice the size of a baseball.
China is the largest potato producer in the world, playing a crucial role in global food security due to its high yields compared to other food crops. However, potatoes are particularly vulnerable to high temperatures and climate change, as emissions from fossil fuels are pushing temperatures to dangerously high levels while exacerbating droughts and floods.
Chinese scientists researching weather-resistant potatoes. (Source: Reuters).
With the urgent need to protect food supplies, Mr. Li, a researcher at the International Potato Center (CIP) in Beijing, is leading a three-year study on the impact of high temperatures on this crop. His team is focusing on the two most popular potato varieties in China.
Mr. Li’s team has been growing potatoes for over three months in a chamber set at temperatures 3 degrees Celsius higher than the current average in northern Hebei and Inner Mongolia, provinces specializing in potato cultivation in China.
A study published in the journal Climate Smart Agriculture in November found that higher temperatures accelerated the potato tuber development process by 10 days, but reduced potato yields by more than half. According to a United Nations report released in October, the world is facing a temperature increase of up to 3.1 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels by 2100.
“The biggest challenge for potatoes this year is heavy rainfall. It has caused many diseases and significantly slowed down the harvesting process,” said farm manager Wang Shiyi from Inner Mongolia.
The CIP’s research is part of a collaborative effort with the Chinese government to help farmers adapt to warmer and more humid weather conditions. Mr. Li stated that Chinese farmers will need to make changes over the next decade, such as planting in spring instead of early summer or moving to higher lands to avoid the heat.
