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24 POTATO GROWER | MAY 2021 Climate change is far from a new topic of conversation. It has been discussed and debated ad nauseam over the last couple decades. But putting aside the politics of it all, the fact remains that farmers in many parts of the world are having to find new ways to deal with the effects of changing environments in their growing regions. Warming climates are inviting new insect pests. Wetter climates are creating an opportunity for new fungi to gain a foothold. These and other relatively new issues have the potential to ravage crops and interrupt the food supply chain. Speeding up innovation pipelines in the agriculture sector can help growers prepare for just such a problem arising on their own farms. New Problems, New Places Many studies have demonstrated that changes in climate — particularly increases in temperature and rainfall — can have a significant impact on the population size, survival rate (i.e., in milder winter conditions) and geographic extension of pests and diseases. In addition, rising of CO2 levels can weaken the natural defenses of plants, making them more susceptible to already locally existing pests and disease. Climate change has the potential to impact all crops in a given region. This includes nearly every crop and locale in the U.S., from coast to coast and border to border; from potatoes, sugarbeets and wheat in northern climes, to cotton, sweet potatoes and vegetables in the South. Tar spot is a recent example of fungal disease, usually seen in tropical climates. Tar spot was first reported in the Corn Belt in 2015, and has spread to many states since then. What Can We Do? Farmers are becoming increasingly dependent on monitoring and global surveillance systems to identify the progression of certain threats. This allows them to adapt their cultural practices and become more agile in responding to both climatic and pest evolution. Growers need the right tools as well as a broad range of solutions to address new threats in a timely manner. Agrochemical and ag tech companies, as well as many in academia, are trying to help provide growers with those necessary tools. The first step, undertaken properly via extensive collaboration, is to understand the nature and the Rising Challenges In a rapidly changing world, agriculture faces more challenges than ever before. How do we best meet them? By Patrice Sellès & Tyrell Marchant