New Agriculturalist focus on Potato

This edition of New Agriculturist focusses on the potato, examining&nbsp;the challenges and opportunities facing producers worldwide. Among the articles includes in the edition are a report from Bolivia&nbsp;looking at&nbsp;efforts to improve access for rural potato growers to high-value urban markets, and the work to conserve the vast genetic diversity of potato in the highlands of Peru. Also covered are attempts to revamp potato production in famine-stricken North Korea, the emerging market for processed potato chips in East Africa, the challenge of climate change for potato-growing areas, and the ever-present danger of the devastating late blight fungus. A&nbsp;full list of articles is as follows: <strong>Ever-present danger - late blight:</strong> Late blight is still a formidable enemy of potato growers worldwide, able to wipe out entire crops in just a few weeks. Over 150 years since it triggered the Irish Potato Famine, scientists and farmers are still fighting the ever-mutating fungus. <strong>Climate change - can potato stand the heat?</strong>&nbsp; Rising temperatures, changes in rainfall distribution and concentrations of greenhouse gases will affect where potato is grown in the future. But scientists are hopeful it will weather the storm. <strong>Rooting for tubers:</strong> In the face of rising food prices, the potato is being promoted in Bangladesh and Peru as a nutritious alternative to more expensive staple foods such as rice and wheat. <strong>Going native: the sweet success of Bolivia's bitter potato:</strong> An initiative to improve sales of a processed potato product in Bolivia has been a runaway success, transforming a traditional "folk" food into a sophisticated, high-value product. <strong>Popular revolution in potato production in North Korea:</strong> North Korea has the potential to make substantial gains by restructuring its potato industry. An FAO-led project has been helping farmers access improved varieties, clean seed and better storage facilities. <strong>Protecting potato diversity in Peru:</strong> A pioneering project to document indigenous potato varieties in the highlands of Peru has made some promising discoveries, as well as protecting against biodiversity loss and bio-piracy. <strong>Cashing in on chips:</strong> The demand for potato chips (French fries) is booming in East Africa. Policy and financial support for in-country, commercial processing of potatoes into chips, combined with improved supply of suitable potato varieties, could bring about a strong regional chip trade. <br /><br />