A new potato or sweetpotato variety represents only the “tip of the iceberg,” concealing hundreds, if not thousands, of hours invested in testing and developing that variety. As scientists at CIP work to produce better performing varieties to help the world’s smallholder farmers, we must first test these varieties under a wide range of conditions with regard to moisture, temperature and soil conditions.
Being able to evaluate the results of a test is an equally difficult challenge but CIP scientists are dedicated to developing stronger and more accurate testing methods to ensure that new varieties meet the needs of vulnerable communities in terms of yield, taste and nutrition.
