In China, the potato is rising. And that’s just one of many developing countries where potatoes are in increasing demand. From Peter VanderZaag’s perspective, potatoes are on a roll. The internationally-renowned potato breeder operates Sunrise Potatoes near Alliston, Ontario but travels extensively for his consultancy. He brought his perspective from China, Africa and South America to the Ontario Potato Conference on March 1.         

The potato has an ability to produce more energy and protein per unit of land and water than nearly all other crops. Improved water use efficiency is needed as climate change affects many continents.

“When we look at sustainable potato production, we’ll be looking at the potential of cisgenics to control major diseases,” says VanderZaag. “Gene silencing and editing can eliminate bad traits so that more harvest can be utilized. Bacterial wilt remains a huge challenge in tropical mid elevations and highlands.”

International trade of fresh potatoes is changing rapidly. Southwest China has a big advantage for export to neighbouring Asian countries. Lowland valley farmers collaborate in the province of China’s Yunnan province and grow high-quality potatoes for large-city markets. They achieve yields of up to 87 tonnes per hectare. While yields for rice, wheat and maize have maxed out, yields of potatoes are increasing. 

Mixing potato flour with wheat flour has resulted in noodles, steamed bread and dumplings which find favour with the Chinese. “This is bread for the poor in western regions of China where more than 50 million still exist in poverty,” says VanderZaag.

Regional trading within continents will increase with improved infrastructure. This is certainly true in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh which has an ideal climate for winter crop potatoes. India alone has more than 6000 cold storages which can hold 5000 tonnes each to supply potatoes during the hot rainy season. Indians like potatoes in curry as well as other dishes.            

The Andean region of South America remains the home of the potato. From a breeder’s perspective, it remains the centre of diversity with more than 4000 native varieties still grown by Andean farmers. The International Potato Centre is the global guardian of the tuber genetics. 

Plant Breeders Rights will continue to be important.  “The length of time that a registered variety can collect royalties is too short,” says VanderZaag. “Canada is considering making it 25 rather than 20 years.”

VanderZaag predicts that public private partnerships in breeding will help develop synergy and will lead to rapid breakthroughs in variety development. This will also reduce the development costs for private breeders.

Public acceptance of cisgenics and gene editing will require education, but the documentation of benefits for small farmers around the world and the case for controlling late blight should help. 

Competitive advantage right now goes to the northwestern United States and northwestern Europe. See chart above.

“My global perspective is bullish for commodity potatoes but less so for Ontario and Canadian growers, who should invest in specialty niche markets,” he says.  Although Ontario growers are within eight hours’ truck delivery of more than 100 million people, the cost of production and low yields are major disadvantages. He cites the competition from neighbouring provinces as another major factor for weakening returns in commodity potatoes.

When we look at sustainable potato production, we’ll be looking at the potential of cisgenics to control major diseases.

~ PETER VANDERZAAG