Search Results (3)

Extreme climate events—such as heatwaves, floods, and droughts—are increasingly affecting ecosystems, with the global average temperature projected to rise by up to 3 °C (IPCC, 2023) due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. These changes pose critical challenges to food security, as evidenced by 733 million people facing hunger in 2024. In response, crop modeling considering different climate change scenarios has become a valuable tool to guide the development of climate-resilient agricultural strategies. Despite its nutritional importance and capacity to thrive across diverse environments, Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato) remains understudied in terms of potential spatial distribution forecasting, particularly in regions of high agrobiodiversity such as northwestern South America. Therefore, in this study we modeled the projected distribution of wild and landrace sweet potato genepools in the northern Andes under four future timeframes using seven machine learning algorithms. Our results predicted a 50% reduction in the climatically suitable range for the wild genepool by 2081, coupled with an average altitudinal shift from 1537 to 2216 m above sea level (a.s.l.). For landraces, a 36% reduction was projected by 2080, with a shift from 62 to 1995 m a.s.l. By the end of the century, suitable zones for both wild and cultivated genepools are expected to converge in high-altitude regions such as the Colombian Massif, with additional remnants of wild populations near the mountain range of Farallones de Cali. This modeling approach provides essential insights into the spatial dynamics of I. batatas under climate change, highlighting the need for ex situ conservation planning in vulnerable regions as well as assisted migration to more suitable areas. Future research should integrate edaphic and biotic interaction data to better approach the realized niche of the species and understand potential responses under a niche conservatism assumption, as well as genomic data to account for the species’ intrinsic adaptative potential, overall informing conservation, germplasm mobilization, and pre-breeding strategies that may ultimately secure the role of sweet potato in resilient food systems. Full article

Andean grains are key elements in the construction of family production systems. These seeds speak of the history of a people, their customs and ancestral knowledge. The general objective of the work was to evaluate the food use, crop management and traditional knowledge about the medicinal use of ancestral Andean grains among the inhabitants of the districts of Quinua and Acos Vinchos (Ayacucho-Peru). Basic descriptive research, carried out by means of convenience sampling, the sample size determined by the Law of Diminishing Returns, after signing an informed consent form. Semi-structured individual interviews were applied to 96 informants. A total of 96.9% of the informants reported that they obtained quinoa grain from their own crops, and 24.0% obtained achita grain that they sowed directly on their land; no cañihua was cultivated. A total of 58.3% use quinoa and achita in their diet. The variability of the food use of ancestral grains, specifically quinoa and achita, constitute a natural source of vegetable protein of high nutritional value, which represents one of the main foods of the inhabitants of Quinua and Acos Vinchos. Traditional medicine derived from the ancestral knowledge of Andean grains is barely preserved, but this is not the case for other medicinal plants in the area, as this knowledge is still preserved. Full article

Climate change poses a significant threat to agroecosystems, especially in the dry areas, characterized by abrupt precipitation pattern and frequent drought events. Ideal crops, tolerant to these events, such as cactus, can perform well under such changing climatic conditions. This study spatially maps land suitability for cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) cultivation in India using the analytical hierarchical process (AHP). Nine essential growth factors that include the climate and edaphic components were considered for the period 2000 to 2007. About 32% of the total geographic area of the country is in the high to moderate suitable category. Remaining 46% falls under the marginally suitable and 22% under the low to very low suitable category. The suitability analysis, based on the precipitation anomaly (2008–2017), suggests a high probability of cactus growth in the western and east-central part of India. The relationship with aridity index shows a decreasing rate of suitability with the increase of aridity in the western and east-central provinces (β~−1 to −2). We conclude that integrating cactus into dryland farming systems and rangelands under changing climate can be one plausible solution to build resilient agro-ecosystems that provide food and fodder while enhancing the availability of ecosystem services. Full article