POTATOES.NEWSGlobal potato industry intelligence391 stories
Plants may unknowingly sabotage themselves by sending signals that awaken dormant pests. A team of scientists from Kobe University, led by Professor Masaharu Mizutani, has identified a key molecule—solanoeclepin C (SEC)—secreted by potato roots into the soil.…
Potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) is notorious for causing the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, yet it continues to destroy crops today. In Kenya, where potatoes are the second most important staple after maize, smallholder farmers…
Potato farming faces significant challenges due to bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum), a devastating disease that causes severe yield losses worldwide. In Indonesia alone, bacterial wilt can reduce potato yields by 30-70%, threatening food security and farmer livelihoods (FAO,…
The planting season for potatoes has officially begun in Kabardino-Balkaria, with the republic’s Ministry of Agriculture projecting cultivation on 7,000 hectares—consistent with the region’s annual averages. While small-scale farmers dominate production, three key districts—Zolsky, Prokhladnensky, and Tersky—account for 52%…
As temperatures rise and soils warm up, farmers face a critical decision: plant potatoes early for a potential head start or wait to avoid summer drought risks. With the 2025 growing season underway, participants of the Gewastour are already…
Germany’s potato sector is taking decisive action against a new agricultural threat: the reed leafhopper (Hyalesthes obsoletus). This native insect, once considered a minor presence, has surged in numbers due to milder winters and extended growing seasons—clear…
In modern potato farming, insect pest control remains a critical challenge, especially with aphids and the Colorado potato beetle continuing to cause significant crop losses. Adding complexity is the limited number of insecticides still authorized under European…
The potato—a staple food for over a billion people and the world’s third most important food crop—is under siege. Once considered reliable and climate-resilient, this tuber is now facing growing threats from a changing global climate, which…
In a quiet research field just outside St. John’s, Newfoundland, a decades-old scientific experiment may hold the key to protecting future potato crops from one of agriculture’s most tenacious enemies: potato wart, caused by the soil-borne fungus…
In recent years, climate change has begun reshaping the agricultural pest landscape in Europe—and the Glassy-Winged Leafhopper (Pentastiridius leporinus), a small but dangerous insect, has emerged as one of the most concerning threats to sugar beet production…
Setting the Record Straight: Are Sweet Potatoes Really More Nutritious Than White Potatoes? Potatoes are a staple crop and a beloved food in many parts of the world. In the U.S., potatoes remain the nation’s most-consumed vegetable,…
Leningrad Region: A Leader in Seed Potato Supply The Leningrad Region has long been a key player in Russia’s agricultural sector, particularly in seed potato production. In 2024, local farms stored 16,000 tons of seed potatoes, which…
