Code:
RG-T4379
Initiative:
Call for Proposals
FONTAGRO Amount:
USD 200.000
Counterpart Amount:
USD 718.658
Execution time
36 Months
Total Amount:
USD 918.658
Participating countries:
Colombia Colombia Bolivia Bolivia Ecuador Ecuador
Funding source:
FONTAGRO Amount 22% Other agencies 0% Counterpart Amount 78%

Executive Summary

This project is a consortium among leading institutions in research, development and innovation in Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia, as well as within the potato production sector in the Andean region. Its main goal is to reduce vulnerability to climate change, incorporating new families and advanced potato clones with early maturity and resilience to drought. Participatory genetic improvement programs and inter-institutional capacities will be strengthened, focusing on improving communication among different actors of the potato production chain, as well as the participating agencies. Additionally, a communication platform will be implemented among members for the identification of future cultivars with advantageous traits, using standardized approaches for clone evaluation and selection. This strategy will also enable the training of young researchers and other participants in new breeding strategies and data analysis and management. 

The technological solution

The project will help to reduce the economic and food risk associated with climate variability in small and medium potato producers in the Andean region. The project strategy is based on incorporating new families and advanced potato clones with early maturity and resilience to drought, previously identified by CIP, through the establishment of observation and multiplication plots, the identification of clones derived from families with high genetic merit from each testing country and the evaluation and selection of advanced clones for their adherence to the above traits.

Results

It is expected that incorporating new elite lines and advanced genotypes will reduce potato production costs by 10% through the elimination of irrigation infrastructure, decreased wages and reduced agrochemical usage in the cycle of cultivation, which implies reduced labor and pesticide use. Likewise, the project will contribute to farming families' harvest security, allowing potato production to be at least 1.5-3% higher in low rainfall conditions compared to current cultivars.

Beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of this project are farming families in Andean agroecosystems susceptible to drought. In Colombia, it will directly impact more than 700 producers from the Cundiboyacense highland region, and indirectly impact the potato production system that involves 100,000 families dedicated to its cultivation. In Ecuador, the direct beneficiaries will be 200 families in the Sierra Region and 150 families from the Coastal Region (Puerto La Boca and Cantagallo) which will indirectly benefit at least 2,000 families. In Bolivia, 420 producers will be directly impacted using methodologies such as: guided visits, field days, and the use of virtual platforms, thus reaching farming families in the areas of the valleys. Likewise, at least 800 families will be indirectly impacted. Finally, it is expected to impact at least 530 technicians, researchers, teachers, and students from the partner entities of the platform and up to 3,000 members of the potato community through events to disseminate results. In conclusion, the project will impact a total of 5,000 direct beneficiaries.

Sustainable Development Goals

No poverty Zero Hunger Clean water and sanitation Decent work and economic growth Responsible consumption and production Climate action

Main donors

Participating Organizations

Executor
  • Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (AGROSAVIA) - Colombia
Co-executor
  • Fundación para la Promoción e Investigación de Productos Andinos (PROINPA) - Bolivia
  • Universidad de Nariño (UDENAR) - Colombia
  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL) - Colombia
  • Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE) - Ecuador
  • Universidad Estatal del Sur de Manabí (UNESUM) - Ecuador
Associated
  • Federación Colombiana de Productores de Papa (FEDEPAPA) - Colombia
  • MOLLINI (MOLLINI) - Bolivia
  • VILLA TOTORAL (VILLATOTORAL) - Bolivia

Graphics and data

Financing by country (in USD)
FONTAGRO Amount Other agencies Counterpart Amount

Geolocated Map

Researchers

Sponsors
BID
IICA
With the support of
Fondo Coreano de Alianza para el Conocimiento en Tecnología e Innovación (KPK)