Early warning for the management of potato late blight

Executive Summary

Potato is a major crop in Latin America and is the main food in family farming. It is native to America, as is the causal agent of Late Blight (LB), P. infestans. LB is considered a re-emerging disease in this crop due to pathogen variability and climate instability that favors its presence and dispersion, with a high incidence and severity. Farmers, therefore, use pesticides excessively and inappropriately, increasing the environmental impact and health risks to users.

This project proposed the formation of a platform of specialists in potato LB, with the aim of developing and implementing an early warning system as a tool to support decision-making in family farming production systems, according to technology available in each country, enabling reductions in losses caused by this disease. Early warning-based information helps farmers perform chemical control in a timely and efficient manner and only when needed.

This information, together with integrated management training and good agricultural practices encourage adaptation and mitigation to climate change for the sustainable intensification of potato production.

Thus, it was proposed to reduce by 50% the use of pesticides necessary for the control of TT, with their safe and efficient use, and the implementation of an IPM strategy, according to the environmental condition and production system, and reducing costs by at least 20%. It also considered strengthening applied research capacities in order to incorporate them into the production systems of member countries.

The technological solution

This project implemented an early warning system as a tool to support decision-making in family farming production systems for integrated management of potato late blight in the participating countries. The system used weather data alongside epidemiological information of the disease to estimate optimal moments for control.

Two systems were implemented, one based on real-time connected weather station network information (tizon.inia.cl, Phytoalert) and a manual system that uses local environmental condition observations (DSS-HH). Both systems enable farmers to make integrated disease management decisions based on the information provided by the alert system, improving the efficiency of agrochemical use, increasing crop productivity and profitability.

The project involved working in Ecuador (Province of Cotopaxi, Pichincha and Chimborazo), Panama (Cerro Punta, Chiriqui), Chile (Chiloé Island) and Argentina: (Belgrano, Northern Argentina).

Results

Beneficiaries

The beneficiaries were family farmers in the platform member countries.

• In Chile, we work with 35 farmers producing native potatoes in Chiloe Island, who are industry and supermarket suppliers, and indirectly with producers throughout the Archipelago.
• In Argentina, we work with 6 families of farmers in the Province of Buenos Aires, as well as another two small farming groups in the north, in order to analyze the two productive realities.
• In Ecuador, the direct beneficiaries were 120 farmers from the provinces of Cotopaxi, Pichincha and Chimborazo and the indirect beneficiaries were the members of the productive chain.
• In Panama, we work with 20 potato producers in the Cerro Punta sector.

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

Dissemination products