FEATUREDFostering innovation along potato value chains in East AfricaThis project aims to strengthen the capacities in scientific research and innovative technologies in Eastern Africa
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FEATUREDSPIRIT Guidelines on innovative technologies and best practicesA set of four guidelines to promote the adoption of innovations along the potato value chains in East Africa
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FEATUREDProposals for East African policy makers to foster innovationRecommendations to promote innovation along potato value chains through modifications in existing policies, regulations and standards.
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Contact with Spirit Access to become a member of East Africa potato value chain knowledge sharing portal Access to become researcher of East Africa potato value chain knowledge sharing portal

TOPIC: View

Research and Innovation

Topic image of the African potato platform

This topic aims to articulate the stakeholders priorities for R&I in the potato value chain and provide guidance on addressing these priorities through new and existing collaborations

RELATED DOCUMENTS
Gender-differentiated trait preferences for sweetpotato varieties in Tanzania
January 11 2022 by INKOA

This report is an update of information on gender-differentiated producer and consumer preferred characteristics of sweet potato conducted at the Lake Zone of Tanzania.
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Document relevant to the topic/s: Production and post-harvest technologies and practices , Quality management along the seed potato value chain , Research and Innovation
Potato-legume intercropping enhances climate resilience and adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers
February 13 2021 by INKOA

In this research brief, two potential roles of potato-legume intercropping are reported: (i) improved control of soil erosion to make potato production more sustainable in the highlands; and (ii) optimizing soil temperatures, soil water contents and soil nutrient balance thus enabling potato production in the drier midland agro-food systems. The results are derived from six separate studies conducted between the 2014 wet season and 2018 dry season in Kenya.
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Document relevant to the topic/s: Production and post-harvest technologies and practices , Research and Innovation
Individual ambient ware potato storage excels in Uganda
December 28 2020 by INKOA

Improved individual ambient storage units allow proper ware potato storage, are easy to maintain and help smallholder farmers fetch higher prices; more education and suitable financial products are needed that entice farmers to invest in these units to enable greater profitability.
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Document relevant to the topic/s: Processing techniques and technologies , Production and post-harvest technologies and practices , Research and Innovation
Analysis of consumers’ point of view regarding sustainability issues in Kenya
October 25 2019 by INKOA

The analysis of consumers’ point of view regarding sustainability issues in Kenya is a document delivered in the context of the  Horti-Green project  (Inclusive Green Horticultural Processing Sector in Kenya).
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Document relevant to the topic/s: Research and Innovation
The Crops (Irish Potato) Regulations, Kenya 2019
June 29 2019 by INKOA

The long awaited Crops (Irish Potato) Regulations, 2019 were finally officially launched by the cabinet secretary, ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation, Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri, during the Annual National Potato Conference in KARLO, Loresho organized by National Potato Council of Kenya. The Regulations will address the prevailing challenges in the Potato Sector which include: Use of extended bags – henceforth, the maximum weight per unit package shall be 50kgs, Quality assurance and marketing and Licensing of actors in the Potato value chain. Check below or download a copy of the regulation here.
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Document relevant to the topic/s: Development of new potato varieties , Processing techniques and technologies , Production and post-harvest technologies and practices , Quality management along the seed potato value chain , Research and Innovation
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RELATED NEWS
COVID-19 leads to African agricultural innovationJanuary 10 2022

In a paper published in Advances in Food Security and Sustainability, researchers found that farmers in East Africa (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) were able to better adapt to the impact of COVID-19 than those in the Southern African countries of Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

These regional differences, the researchers said, could largely be explained by the difference in arrival times of lock-down measures, access and adoption of technology and cultural differences in adapting to the new situation.
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Can Kenya fix the potato value chain?January 10 2022

There was a public outcry last week against the American fast-food franchise Kentucky Fries and Chicken (KFC).

The furore that was channelled through social media, with the hashtag BoycottKFC trending on Twitter, was inflamed by a KFC tweet on Monday that it had run out of potato chips.

‘Insensitive’ is the word that the Governor of Nyandarua County Francis Kimemia used to describe the statement by KFC. This is because thousands of farmers continue to struggle with an oversupply of potatoes.
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ADAPT – Accelerated Development of multiple-stress tolerant PotatoDecember 28 2021

The ADAPT Project, with a total budget of 5 million Euro funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No GA 2020 862-858, will determine the molecular and phenotypical responses of potatoes to combined environmental stress conditions such as heat, drought and flooding, which are becoming increasingly important for potato yield under the challenging growth conditions of the future due to climate change.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
First World Congress on Root & Tuber Crops - WCRTC
From 18/01/2016 to 22/01/2016 — Nanning, Guangxi, China

The congress represents a unique opportunity for exchanging expert and scientific advice on Root & Tuber Crops (RTCs) and will facilitate the discourse amongst key root and tuber crops stakeholders like farmers, end-users, researchers, the private sector and donor agencies.

It aims at raising awareness of the importance of the RTCs in the world, reviewing recent scientific progress, identifying and setting priorities for new opportunities and challenges as well as charting a course to seek R&D support for areas where it is currently inadequate or lacking.

Due to its structure and content, the congress will facilitate the process of bringing together the scientific world and the private sector.
Winter Forum (East) 2016
From 19/01/2016 to 19/01/2016 — Holiday Inn - Peterborogh, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England

AHDB Potatoes and industry experts will debate key topical technical issues
Fifth Event of the "East Africa Potato Research and Knowledge Exchange Forum"
From 17/04/2016 to 21/04/2016 — Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Reseach Centre - Kabale, Uganda

The SPIRIT action aims at strengthening the capacities in scientific research and innovative technologies and practices for enhanced product quality along the potato value chain in East Africa and hence contributes towards building capacities in the area of Agricultural Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI) in East Africa. In this sense, a total of six knowledge exchange events were planned to be carried out by the members of the Forum.
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The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the consortium and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.