Implementation of an early warning system for the management of potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) as an adaptation measure to climate change variability in Latin America.

The project addresses the impact of climate change on agriculture, specifically on the management of potato late blight (TT), a disease caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans, which can cause total losses under favorable conditions. The initiative focuses on the development of an integrated management system that includes pre-farm hygiene, adequate fertilization, selection of resistant varieties, and strategic use of agrochemicals, all adjusted to the environmental conditions that intensify the disease. An early warning system will be implemented and various instructions will be created for sampling, equipment calibration, and effective blight management, including integrated management practices (IPM) and good agricultural practices (GAP). In addition, a database and population map of P. infestans will be developed to improve understanding and response to the disease in the Cerro Punta region of Panama. This effort will directly benefit 300 growers in the area, improving their capacity to deal with this significant threat to potato production.