Staple foods: Climate change and pests: Resistant potatoes sought after
Heat and pests from warmer countries are presenting potato breeders with a variety of problems. In the south, there are already yield losses. Breeders are looking for new varieties, but that takes time.
The potato industry is facing significant challenges due to climate change and the invasion of the Schilf-Glasflügelzikade, a pest that transmits diseases such as Stolbur and SBR. Jörg Renatus, CEO of Europlant Pflanzenzucht GmbH, a major potato breeder in Europe, says that finding drought- and stress-resistant potato varieties is a top priority.
The company has developed several new varieties, including Jelly, Glorietta, Belana, and Regina, which are more resilient to heat and have better storage properties. The Schilf-Glasflügelzikade has already caused significant damage in the Pfalz region, but Niedersachsen and Schleswig-Holstein have been largely spared so far. The potato industry will showcase new developments and solutions at PotatoEurope 2026 near Hannover.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
