Sweet Potato

The ARC is celebrating 70 years of contribution to sweet potato research and development in South Africa in 2022. In South Africa sweet potatoes being the second largest root crop produced (82 000 t in 2018/19) following on carrots, has a well-developed commercial market but also plays an important role in food security and alleviating malnutrition. The major production areas are Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Brits area in North West, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape but it is grown by small-holder and resource-poor farmers in virtually all provinces of South Africa.

Sweet potato is an excellent source of carbohydrates and has a low glycaemic index (GI). Orange-fleshed types are rich in beta-carotene, a pro-vitamin A carotenoid that is converted to vitamin A by the human body. Orange-fleshed sweet potato is promoted for alleviation of vitamin A deficiency and reduce non-communicable diseases (Laurie et al., 2018). This is very relevant since the South African Child Gauge 2020 report states that: "Malnutrition hurts millions of South Africa's children now, just as it did 20 years ago". Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains a serious fundamental cause of child deaths in South Africa, accounting for 1/4 child in-hospital deaths. Sweet potato has been reported as good potential source of phenolic compounds and antioxidants. Polyphenols play a role in preventing many chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.

The multidisciplinary research approach at the ARC covers the full value chain i.e. development of improved cultivars, optimization of cultivation practices, crop protection and diagnostic services, stream-lined seed systems, processing and enterprise development.