Late blight, a devastating disease responsible for up to 70% yield losses in potatoes, continues to threaten food security and farmers’ livelihoods across the continent. Traditional control methods, such as chemical fungicides, are costly, environmentally taxing, and often inaccessible to smallholder farmers—yet biotechnology can be a game-changer. By leveraging cutting-edge research, the biotech late blight-resistant potato significantly reduces the need for chemical inputs, enhances productivity, and improves farmers’ resilience to climate-induced agricultural challenges. 

This event will celebrate the power of strategic partnerships in agricultural innovation. The collaboration between the International Potato Center (CIP) and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) exemplifies how CGIAR and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) co-develop and deliver high-impact technologies, ensuring they reach the farmers who need them most. This partnership is about technology transfer and empowering national institutions to lead biotech innovation in their countries, fostering food security and driving economic growth.