In a high-tech lab outside Beijing, molecular biologist Li Jieping holds a potato the size of a quail’s egg—a tiny warning sign of our warming planet. 🌡️ His team at the International Potato Center (CIP) is battling climate change’s threat to one of the world’s most vital crops. 🥔
Heatwaves = Shrinking Spuds?
China produces more potatoes than any country, but rising temperatures could slash yields by 50%, per their Climate Smart Agriculture study. Simulating 2100’s predicted heat, researchers grew tubers 60% smaller than today’s baseball-sized norms. 😱
Farmers Fight Floods & Fungus
In Inner Mongolia, workers race storms to harvest crops as downpours worsen. \"Late blight—the disease behind Ireland’s famine—is evolving,\" says agri-company leader Li Xuemin. Companies now use aeroponic tech to grow disease-resistant spuds in mid-air. 👩🌾🔬
Future-Proofing Food
Li’s team is cross-breeding heat-tolerant varieties while urging farmers to plant earlier or move uphill. \"Without solutions, potato prices could skyrocket,\" he warns. With UN predictions of 3.1°C warming by 2100, this isn’t just about fries—it’s global food security. 🌏🍟
