Certified Seed Potato: a key tool for food security in Latin america and The Caribbean

The use, production and commercialization of certified seed potato will lead to greater availability of seed and ware potatoes, thus generating a major social, economic and food security impact for the population in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Context of the story

One of the most important limitations of potato production in this region is the low or no availability of certified seed potatoes in many countries. This situation produces negative effects with productive, economic and social consequences such as the disappearance of small and medium-sized producers, loss of employment, and impoverishment of farming communities, which compromises food security in the region. One means for the potato to fulfill its key role in generating food security is to have greater availability of this product in the markets, which would be achieved by increasing crop yields. Therefore, it is essential to increase the availability of certified seed potatoes for use in crops intended for ware potato production.

Use, production and commercialization of seed potato in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Implemented Initiative

The objective of the project is to contribute to food security in LAC by improving ware potato production through increased use and production of certified seed potato. The proposal is to: a) Increase certified seed potato utilization by ware potato producers and production by current and new seed producers, emphasizing family participation, incorporating women and youth. b) Develop and propose to the plant health and certification organizations a standard agreed upon between participating countries that improves the current standard and facilitates the use of local certified seed potato and regional trade. c) Train the potato community in all technical, scientific, legal and commercial aspects to achieve an increase in certified seed potato quantity and quality.

To increase potato production in Latin America and the Caribbean through the use, production and commercialization of certified seed potatoes.

The technological solution

The increase in the use and production of certified seed potato, the valorization and development of differentiated areas for its production, the training of human resources and the harmonization of certification standards for Latin America and the Caribbean are important innovative solutions for the region. These strategies represent concrete contributions to an important advance in local and regional seed potato production, improving the current situation, since an increase in seed potato production would lead to greater use by ware potato producers, resulting in higher yields and increased availability of potatoes for human consumption, contributing to both food security and human nutrition in the region.

“Seed Quality and Availability: the key to harvest success”

— Devaux, A.; Goffart, J.P.; Petsakos, A.; Kromann, P.; Gatto, M.; Okello, J.; Suarez, V.; and Hareau, G.. 2018. Global Food Security, Contributions from Sustainable Potato Agri-Food Systems. pp. 3-35.

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Type of project

Agronomic Practices

Results

The proposed technological solution involves the use of certified seed potatoes by ware potato producers, it also aims to increase the number of certified seed potatoes producers, the yield, and the commercialization of this technology by those who already produce it. Furthermore, it focuses on valuing and developing differentiated areas for such production and harmonizing Certification Standards in Latin America and the Caribbean. These solutions will facilitate the availability of seed and the volume of ware potatoes for the population, thereby producing a significant social, economic, and food security impact throughout the region.