Title
An integrated seed health strategy and phytosanitary risk assessment: Potato in the Republic of Georgia
Date Issued
01 June 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Andersen Onofre K.F.
Forbes G.A.
Buddenhagen C.E.
Fulton J.C.
Gatto M.
Khidesheli Z.
Mdivani R.
Xing Y.
Garrett K.A.
International Potato Center
Publisher(s)
Elsevier Ltd
Abstract
CONTEXT: Potato is an essential food staple and a critical crop for rural livelihoods in the Republic of Georgia, where many phytosanitary risks threaten production. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were, first, to characterize the current seed and ware potato transaction network, value chain, varietal adoption, and phytosanitary risks for Georgia. Second, we modeled scenarios for the spread of an emerging pathogen, Synchytrium endobioticum, in Georgia as part of a geographic risk assessment analysis. Third, we coupled risk estimated in our simulation experiments with risk of reintroduction or invasion of pathogens via international trade or habitat connectivity. We found that a majority of seed potato is obtained from local sources in Georgia, and is of unknown phytosanitary quality. METHODS: An expert elicitation workshop was held to characterize the potato value chain as well as potato production more generally in the Republic of Georgia. To characterize future risk of pathogen spread through Georgia we leveraged epidemic network analysis, an analysis of potato cropland connectivity, and an evaluation of international potato trade in a multi-step risk assessment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Five varieties, including the variety Jelly, made up 65% of planted area throughout the country. Several pathogens and pests were listed as contributing to annual yield loss with S. endobioticum, causing potato wart, identified as the greatest emerging risk to the country. Through simulation analyses of potential spread scenarios within country, we identified municipalities in Adjara and Samtskhe-Javakheti to be at particularly high risk for introduction of potato wart and we recommend enhanced surveillance in these regions. Our analysis of cropland connectivity revealed that the region where Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia meet are at a high risk for local spread of seedborne pathogens such as S. endobioticum. We propose these locations as targets for enhanced surveillance and mitigation strategies. SIGNIFICANCE: We introduce these methods as a general framework for the rapid assessment of phytosanitary risks of regional seed systems, especially where information available to guide interventions is scarce.
Volume
191
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Biotecnología agrícola, Biotecnología alimentaria
Epidemiología
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85107124285
Source
Agricultural Systems
ISSN of the container
0308521X
DOI of the container
10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103144
Source funding
University of Florida
Austrian Development Agency
Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers
Sponsor(s)
This research was undertaken as part of and funded by the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) and supported by CGIAR Fund Donors ( http://www.cgiar.org/funders/ ), the University of Florida , and the Austrian Development Agency. We appreciate helpful comments from E. Goss, R. Muneepeerakul, and I. Small.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus