The International Potato Center (CIP) and the Crop Trust have launched a new phase of the BOLD project, an initiative aimed at harnessing traits found in wild potato relatives to develop climate-resilient varieties while shoring up the seed systems that move improved genetics from research stations into farmers' fields across East Africa.
Why It Matters
For foodservice operators and restaurant supply chains that depend on consistent potato sourcing, breeding programs like BOLD represent a critical upstream investment. Potatoes rank among the most widely consumed staple crops globally, and supply disruptions in East African growing regions can ripple outward through commodity markets, affecting pricing and availability for processors, distributors, and operators alike. Strengthening regional variety resilience is one of the most effective long-term hedges against the yield volatility that climate stress increasingly introduces.
The BOLD project's approach draws on biodiversity held in gene banks — wild potato relatives that carry genetic traits for drought tolerance, disease resistance, and adaptability to shifting growing conditions. By systematically incorporating those traits into commercially viable varieties, CIP and the Crop Trust aim to reduce the vulnerability that smallholder farmers in East Africa currently face when temperatures, rainfall patterns, or pest pressures deviate from historical norms.
Seed Systems and Supply
Beyond genetics, the expanded project phase places explicit emphasis on seed system development — the infrastructure of certified seed production, distribution, and farmer adoption that determines whether a superior variety ever reaches scale. This focus reflects a broader recognition across agricultural development that new varieties alone do not improve food security; they must be accessible, affordable, and trusted by the farmers who grow them.
For the hospitality and food industry, reliable upstream crop development translates into steadier ingredient pipelines. Potatoes are a cornerstone of menus across quick-service, fast-casual, and full-service dining, and they underpin enormous volumes of processed food products from frozen fries to snack chips. Investments in variety resilience and seed system integrity — particularly in regions with significant production potential like East Africa — matter to everyone from multinational processors to regional restaurant groups sourcing locally grown product.
The partnership between CIP and the Crop Trust, a global fund dedicated to securing the world's crop diversity, reflects a growing alignment between conservation science and practical agricultural development. This work also connects to broader initiatives tracked by Food & Beverage Magazine covering ingredient supply resilience and sustainable sourcing trends that affect operators worldwide.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
