New potato varieties for limited-resource communities in the high Andes

Executive Summary

Andean countries have made progress in potato breeding, but innovations are still needed for low-income people in marginal high-Andean areas. The gap is a consequence of the weak coordination of research systems with development agents and grassroots organizations, the incompatibility between formal seed systems and peasant ("informal") systems, the limited systematization and replication of experiences that work in specific contexts and collaboration between countries with a similar reality. The project has contributed to correct the above based on four modules:

1. Facilitated access of national research systems to standardized germplasm, information and evaluation procedures.
2. Accelerated release of varieties and early adoption of innovative dissemination, diffusion and promotion schemes adapted to multiple needs and opportunities.
3. Diverse, efficient and economically viable technologies for seed production.
4. Research and Development Innovation Network to facilitate interaction between public and private actors and existing networks.

Some of the outstanding products and results include an increase in the genetic base with resistant and highly productive materials; diffusion and promotion of new varieties; improved seed systems based on aeroponics, information and training units for multi-stakeholder chains.

The technological solution

The technological solution was based on genetic improvement and the availability of resistant materials, with high productivity, earliness and quality through the international distribution of genotypes and their incorporation into breeding programs. This resulted in four new varieties released and four others that have been proposed for release. This solution would be incomplete without the incorporation of improved seed production systems in the communities themselves, through the training of 34 seed producers capable of producing pre-basic seed. Finally, the technological solution was complemented by actions to disseminate results and technologies and the training of technicians and producers in all participating countries.

Results

Beneficiaries

The project achieved significant benefits derived from the actions of the executing agency (CIP), which trained 34 seed producers in the production of pre-basic seed in aeroponics units and 12 researchers in the use of GIS-AMMI platforms. Under the project, more than 500 potato genotypes were exchanged. Additionally, each participating country trained and provided superior genetic materials to a large number of producers and undergraduate and postgraduate theses were developed. These achievements signal not only benefits for technicians and producers but also for consumers, who now have access to new quality potato varieties.

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors