- New disease-resistant potatoes are being bred in Kenya to combat late blight without fungicides.
- Local farmers help select top varieties using participatory methods.
- The initiative boosts food security and reduces health and environmental risks.
In Kenya’s Nakuru highlands, researchers from the International Potato Center (CIP) are developing “wow” potatoes – robust new varieties bred to naturally resist late blight, a devastating crop disease.
Crucially, farmers are at the heart of the selection process. Using creative participatory methods like seed and slip voting, growers evaluate tubers based on practical traits they value most – such as cooking quality, tuber size mix, and resilience.
Seeds of Resilience: East Africa’s Farmers and Scientists Breed a Better Potato
Late blight has long haunted potato farmers, especially in regions like Kenya where potatoes are a dietary staple. Traditional fungicide use, while offering some protection, poses economic, health, and ecological challenges for smallholder farmers.
The new approach—using potato wild relatives with genetic resistance—is a breakthrough. The process begins with crosses developed in Peru and is refined locally in East Africa through rigorous field trials that eliminate chemical treatments and rely on natural infection for selection.
The project’s success hinges not just on science but on farmer collaboration. By involving local growers early in the process, researchers align new varieties with community needs, including preferences for taste, market appeal, and replanting potential.
Through a growing regional breeding network, CIP and partners are sharing data, seeds, and knowledge across East African countries. This ensures that the benefits of resilient, farmer-approved potatoes extend beyond Kenya’s borders.
With farmer insight and scientific innovation working hand-in-hand, Kenya’s quest for blight-resistant potatoes is cultivating not only better crops—but a more secure agricultural future.
“We’re only looking for ‘wow!’ potatoes.” – Thiago Mendes, CIP Potato Breeder
