Scientists Are Now Climate-Proofing Potatoes

Photo: Florence Lo/Reuters

Climate change continues to inspire innovation in the food industry. In China, scientists are working hard on a new approach to growing potatoes. According to Al Jazeera, A research team led by Li Jieping, a molecular biologist at the International Potato Center (CIP) in Beijing, China, is figuring out how to make them climate-proof. 

To do so the team grows potatoes in a small pot, introducing it to high-temperature conditions they predict reflect the inevitable trajectory of climate change. According to the USDA, 824.6 million people still lack sufficient access to food, even if food security improved slightly in 2024. And, it says that climate change can negatively impact efforts to improve global food security (via USDA). 

China is the world’s biggest potato producer and supplier. However, according to Action Against Hunger, climate change has tubers in its crosshairs. Climate-proofing has the potential to save not only potatoes but many of the world’s most important crops.

China’s climate-proof potatoes weigh just 4.8 ounces—just half the size of the country’s average potato. Li and his team have worked on climate-proofing for 3 years now. The team’s main goal is to improve heat resistance because potatoes are susceptible to drastic temperature fluctuations. They found that exposure to heat accelerated growth, yet negatively impacted the overall yield. 

Climate change has already begun affecting farmers in China. As a result, there is a growing demand for potato varieties less susceptible to temperature changes. It’s unclear when China’s climate-proof potatoes will be ready for the global market.

More content

Eating InInnovation
DoorDash And Klarna Team Up to Let You Finance Your Meals
In a move that screams “treat yourself now, worry later,” DoorDash has partnered with buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) giant Klarna to offer flexible payment options for your…
,
Eating OutInnovation
Study Shows Fast Food Market To Grow By $119.6 Billion
Fast food consumption is on the rise, according to a recent study conducted by Technavio. Trends estimate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3%,…
,
InnovationLifestyle
Worm Delicacy From The Philippines May Hold Key To New Antibiotic
According to Al Jazeera, in the Philippines lives a slimy, riverside mollusk that could lead to improvements in human antibiotics. Primarily found on Palawan Island,…
,
Burger
We Deliver!

Enter your email address below and we'll deliver our top stories straight to your inbox