Scientists Are Now Climate-Proofing Potatoes

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.