International Potato Center

About: International Potato Center is a facility organization based out in Lima, Peru. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Phytophthora infestans. The organization has 1036 authors who have published 1460 publications receiving 47183 citations.

Nutritious subsistence food systems

Abstract: The major subsistence food systems of the world that feed resource‐poor populations are identified and their capacity to supply essential nutrients in reasonable balance to the people dependent on them has been considered for some of these with a view to overcoming their nutrient limitations in sound agronomic and sustainable ways. The approach discusses possible cropping system improvements and alternatives in terms of crop combinations, external mineral supply, additional crops, and the potential for breeding staples in order to enhance their nutritional balance while maintaining or improving the sustainability and dietary, agronomic, and societal acceptability of the system. The conceptual framework calls for attention first to balancing crop nutrition that in nearly every case will also increase crop productivity, allowing sufficient staple to be produced on less land so that the remaining land can be devoted to more nutrient‐dense and nutrient‐balancing crops. Once this is achieved, the additional requirements of humans and animals (vitamins, selenium, and iodine) can be addressed. Case studies illustrate principles and strategies. This chapter is a proposal to widen the range of tools and strategies that could be adopted in the HarvestPlus Challenge Program to achieve its goals of eliminating micronutrient deficiencies in the food systems of resource‐poor countries.

U.S. Agriculture and Climate Change: New Results

Abstract: We examined the impacts on U.S. agriculture of transient climate change as simulated by 2 global general circulation models focusing on the decades of the 2030s and 2090s. We examined historical shifts in the location of crops and trends in the variability of U.S. average crop yields, finding that non-climatic forces have likely dominated the north and westward movement of crops and the trends in yield variability. For the simulated future climates we considered impacts on crops, grazing and pasture, livestock, pesticide use, irrigation water supply and demand, and the sensitivity to international trade assumptions, finding that the aggregate of these effects were positive for the U.S. consumer but negative, due to declining crop prices, for producers. We examined the effects of potential changes in El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and impacts on yield variability of changes in mean climate conditions. Increased losses occurred with ENSO intensity and frequency increases that could not be completely offset even if the events could be perfectly forecasted. Effects on yield variability of changes in mean temperatures were mixed. We also considered case study interactions of climate, agriculture, and the environment focusing on climate effects on nutrient loading to the Chesapeake Bay and groundwater depletion of the Edward's Aquifer that provides water for municipalities and agriculture to the San Antonio, Texas area. While only case studies, these results suggest environmental targets such as pumping limits and changes in farm practices to limit nutrient run-off would need to be tightened if current environmental goals were to be achieved under the climate scenarios we examined

The Worldwide Potential for Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoaWilld.)

Abstract: Quinoa is a highly nutritious food product, being cultivated for several thousands years in South America, with an outstanding protein quality and a high content of a range of vitamins and minerals. Other positive aspects of quinoa are the saponins found in the seed hull and the lack of gluten. Quinoa is one of the main food crops in the Andean mountains, but during recent times there has been increased interest for the product in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Quinoa has been selected by FAO as one of the crops destined to offer food security in the next century. The genetic variability of quinoa is huge, with cultivars of quinoa being adapted to growth from sea level to 4000 meters above sea level (masl), from 408 St o 28N latitude, and from cold, highland climate to subtropical conditions. This makes it possible to select, adapt, and breed cultivars for a wide range of environmental conditions. A major constraint for growth in northern parts of Europe, Canada, and in high altitude regions is the short growth season, because quinoa requires a maximal developmental time of 150 days in order to secure seed harvest. Hence, early maturity is one of the most important characteristics if quinoa is grown under these conditions. In southern Europe, the United States in certain parts of Africa and Asia there is good potential for increased production of quinoa. Quinoa has a significant, worldwide potential as a new cultivated crop species and as an imported commodity from South America. The main uses of quinoa are for cooking, baking, etc.; various products for people allergic to gluten; animal feed, green fodder, and pellets; modified food products such as breakfast cereals, pasta, and cookies;

The Resistance of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoaWilld.) to Adverse Abiotic Factors

Abstract: Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoaWilld.) has been cultivated in the Andean region for thousands of years, providing highly nutritious food to poor farmers in the Andes. The conditions for crop growth are very difficult in the high region of the Andes, where the most harmful abiotic adverse factors that affect crop production are drought, frost, soil salinity, hail, snow, wind, flooding, and heat. Quinoa can grow with only 200 mm of rainfall in pure sand. Fourteen lines with improved drought resistance have been identified, and several drought-mediating mechanisms have been found. The crop has also demonstrated unusually high salt tolerance; many varieties can grow in salt concentrations as high as those found in seawater (40 mS cm−1), and four lines have been identified with even higher tolerance. Quinoa also has a high degree of frost resistance, surviving −8°C for up to 4 hours, depending on phenological phase and variety.

The effect of climate change on global potato production

Abstract: The effect of climate change on global potato production was assessed. Potential yields were calculated with a simulation model and a grid with monthly climate data for current (1961–1990) and projected (2010–2039 and 2040–2069) conditions. The results were mapped and summarized for countries. Between 1961–1990 and 2040–2069 the global (terrestrial excluding Antarctica) average temperature is predicted to increase between 2.1 and 3.2 C, depending on the climate scenario. The temperature increase is smaller when changes are weighted by the potato area and particularly when adaptation of planting time and cultivars is considered (a predicted temperature increase between 1 and 1.4 C). For this period, global potential potato yield decreases by 18% to 32% (without adaptation) and by 9% to 18% (with adaptation). At high latitudes, global warming will likely lead to changes in the time of planting, the use of later-maturing cultivars, and a shift of the location of potato production. In many of these regions, changes in potato yield are likely to be relatively small, and sometimes positive. Shifting planting time or location is less feasible at lower latitudes, and in these regions global warming could have a strong negative effect on potato production. It is shown that heat-tolerant potato cultivars could be used to mitigate effects of global warming in (sub)tropical regions.