Potato and sweetpotato farmers are set to benefit from a new international research initiative that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate the development of crop varieties better able to withstand climate change, pests and diseases.
The initiative, known as GAIN-RT (Genetic Acceleration through Artificial Intelligence for Root and Tuber Crops), brings together the International Potato Center (CIP), The James Hutton Institute (JHI) in the UK, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and Egerton University.
The partnership aims to combine expertise in crop breeding, AI and field research to shorten the time needed to develop and deliver improved varieties to farmers, particularly in vulnerable regions such as sub-Saharan Africa.
CIP Director General Simon Heck said conventional breeding methods often take many years, while climate change, pests and diseases are evolving much faster.
“Breeding has traditionally taken many years to deliver improved varieties,” Heck said. “But climate change and pests do not wait. They evolve rapidly.”
He said AI could help breeders identify promising varieties faster and reduce the risks facing farmers.
Under the initiative, researchers will use AI models to predict which crop varieties are likely to perform best under climate stress, identify stronger and more durable disease resistance, and improve the efficiency of breeding programmes.
The technology will draw on large genomic, environmental and field datasets to identify useful traits and accelerate breeding decisions, potentially reducing the time required to develop and release improved varieties.
The project’s partners will combine international scientific expertise with local knowledge and field validation. CIP brings experience in potato and sweetpotato breeding and established links with farmers and national agricultural programmes, while JHI contributes expertise in AI, genomics and plant science.
KALRO and Egerton University will provide regional expertise, field testing and pathways for adoption, helping ensure that innovations developed through the project can be tested under real farming conditions and eventually reach farmers.
The initiative will initially focus on potato, with the aim of developing climate-resilient varieties that can improve yields and reliability for smallholder farmers. Stronger resistance to pests and diseases could also help reduce reliance on chemical inputs while contributing to food and nutrition security.
Sweetpotato and other strategically important crops are expected to follow as the initiative builds on the results of its first phase.
GAIN-RT will also invest in training scientists, particularly women and early-career researchers, in AI-driven breeding. The partners say this will strengthen local research capacity and help sustain the use of emerging technologies in national breeding programmes.
“By combining AI with strong partnerships and local expertise, we can accelerate the delivery of better crops to the farmers who need them most,” said Hannele Lindqvist-Kreuze, GAIN-RT principal investigator from CIP.
Ingo Hein, principal investigator from JHI, said the collaboration would harness AI and emerging technologies to develop more resilient potatoes and other important crops while supporting sustainable agriculture and food security.
The project was commissioned by the UK-CGIAR Centre, which seeks to strengthen collaboration between UK science institutions, CGIAR and local partners through impact-focused partnerships. CABI serves as the Centre’s secretariat.
The project is funded by UK International Development.
