The Sweetpotato Germplasm Ordering Platform is an online website that allows you to order pathogen-free released germplasm from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) breeding programs. All germplasm are currently shipped from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) station in Muguga, Kiambu County, Kenya. 108 sweetpotato varieties have been added on the …

Using sound statistical approaches is one of the most effective ways to increase heritability, response to selection and consequently expected genetic gains. The International Potato Center (CIP) is organizing a biometrics training funded by the OneCGIAR Breeding Resources Initiative and the SweetGAINS BMGF investment implemented by CIP and partners, from 5 till 9 December 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya. The hands-on …

To celebrate the best in sweetpotato research, we are extremely excited to announce our annual Sweetpotato Science Paper competition for 2022. Established through a generous endowment from Dr. Jan Low, CIP offers a $500 award presented to the lead author of the publication and intended to be split among the co-authors. The …

The International Potato Center is pleased to announce that the “Excellence and Innovation in Sweetpotato: Communication for Change Award” will take place for a sixth year in 2022.  The annual award was established with a generous endowment from Dr Jan W Low, a recipient of the World Food Prize in …

“Prioritizing end-user preferences in variety development is a key strategy toward not only enhancing technology adoption, but also bridging the inherent gender technology adoption gap in the developing world,” says Chalmers Mulwa, a social scientist at CIP.  Gender and variety trait preferences in Uganda, Tanzania, and Mozambique – International Potato …

Everyone smiled, grasped hands, and shook their heads in wonder. The excitement at Michael Mugabi’s fields was palpable. In Mugabi’s plot, farmers were asked to plant four sweetpotato varieties. Two of these were the most popular local market varieties (Muwulu Aduduma and Umbrella), and two new best-fit varieties that had …

The winner of the best sweetpotato scientific paper in 2020 is:  Development of a food product profile for boiled and steamed sweetpotato in Uganda for more effective breeding. International Journal of Food Science and Technology 56 (3), pp. 1385-1398. (https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.14792 This study sought to understand user preferences of raw, boiled and steamed sweetpotato, a staple food …

Tanzania ranks second in sweetpotato production in Africa, in spite of the fact that yields continue to be sub-optimal due to challenges such as poor soil fertility and use of virus-infected seed. However, the largest challenge to farmers is limited availability and access to high-quality seed. Most farmers in Tanzania …

Cassava and sweetpotato play a vital role in food security and income generation in Tanzania. However, yields for these crops range far below their potential due to viruses that proliferate through seed. Sweet potato virus disease (SPVD) and sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) are the two most potent challenges …