Since 1998s, Atsede has been breeding potatoes for Ethiopia, at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)—an important but often overlooked work. Despite nearly 16 million people facing hunger, potatoes have long given less attention to government investments. Yet, this resilient crop is gaining momentum: potato farming areas in Ethiopia have expanded more than 10-fold in the past 50 years. Now, the East African Potato Breeding Network, of which Atsede is a member, aims to make breeding more efficient by connecting national programs to share resources and expertise. We spoke with Atsede at the network’s meeting in Nairobi this year.
CIP: Can you tell me about how the movement toward networked breeding has changed things?
Atsede: Absolutely. In the past, we had separate breeding programs in each African country, working in isolation. Each program was small and focused only on its own needs. But now, through the network, we’re working and organising together. We share facilities, which helps save costs, and we also exchange germplasm and skills. For instance, if one center releases a new variety for a specific market segment, the whole network can benefit from that release without each country developing it independently. This approach not only reduces costs but also accelerates the process—it’s like doing breeding work for less.
CIP: It sounds like there’s a lot of collaboration. How does this impact the markets?
Atsede: Exactly. Markets in different countries are constantly changing, and working as a network allows us to adapt our breeding strategy to these shifts. We’re developing potato varieties that better fit the needs of our people and markets. It’s all about staying relevant and being responsive to market demands, which are different in each region but share some common trends.
CIP: Let’s talk about Ethiopia. How important is potato to Ethiopian agriculture?
Atsede: Potato is incredibly important in Ethiopia. It’s both a food and cash crop for more than 5 million smallholder farmers. It even plays a crucial role during the “hunger gap”—when cereal crops are still growing in the fields but there’s no harvest yet, potatoes are ready to harvest and help bridge that gap. Around 70% of Ethiopia’s arable land has potential for potato farming, especially in the highlands, where other crops struggle to grow. Despite this, potatoes and other horticultural crops haven’t received much attention from the government. However, potato is actually the number one root and tuber crop here, vital for food security.
CIP: How does being part of a breeding network help address some of these challenges?
Atsede: Being in a network lets us build capacity, share skills, and exchange knowledge across East Africa. This collaboration is essential because, in Ethiopia, traditional food habits are mostly cereal-based—maize, barley, wheat, sorghum. There’s limited awareness about potatoes, and on top of that, the seed production, distribution and crop storage are complex, especially since potato is not native to Africa. Still, potato’s popularity is growing. Back in the 1970s, only about 30,000 hectares were devoted to potato farming. Now, that’s increased dramatically to 335,000 hectares. The government needs to recognize this shift and give more support to potato breeding and production.
CIP: What qualities are you focusing on in your breeding programs?
Atsede: We’re focused on yield, late blight resistance, and, of course, taste. Now that some industries are starting to process potatoes into chips and crisps, we’re also developing varieties specifically suited for processing. Additionally, we have access to biofortified germplasm from CIP (International Potato Center), so we’re working on biofortified varieties with higher iron and zinc content. This is especially beneficial for smallholders who depend on potatoes as a primary food source—these new varieties help them meet their nutritional needs.
CIP: How does being part of the network influence your work on a personal level?
Atsede: It broadens your perspective. You get new ideas and see different approaches from people across various countries, from junior scientists to highly experienced experts. It pushes you to think beyond Ethiopia and consider the global picture while still focusing on local needs. This way, we’re able to continuously improve and innovate at home while contributing to the broader field of potato breeding.
CIP: Where do you see this network going in the future?
Atsede: I’m really encouraged by how functional the network has been right from the start. Everyone is collaborating, and as we’re working on this paper, I’m excited to see the network’s impact in practice. After implementation, I hope we’ll see more varieties released in different countries, more seed producers engaged, and stronger market linkages across Africa. I also look forward to having more formal seed systems and regulations in place to prevent the spread of pests and diseases across borders. And with molecular breeding tools, we can share facilities, which will make the process more affordable. Ultimately, this network can make potato farming more profitable and help establish potato as a valuable cash crop in the region.
Interview with Atsede Retta (EIAR) by Stefan Möhl (CIP)