How Scottish potatoes are helping Kenyan farmers battle crop pests

Scottish scientists from the James Hutton Institute and University of St Andrews have introduced two new potato varieties, Malaika and Glen, to Kenya. Both are now approved and added to the national variety list.

Developed with Greenvale and tested through Kenyan trials, these potatoes resist the destructive potato cyst nematode, cook quickly and sprout soon after harvest, so farmers can replant fast.

The initiative involved collaboration among UK and African researchers, Kenyan government agencies, seed suppliers, and farmers. As Kenya’s second most important crop, potatoes support about 2.5 million people and contribute 500 million dollars annually.