Tubers

Aroostook County, Maine is responsible for producing billions of pounds of potatoes each year. Potato Beetles have been known to decimate potato plants, but a new hybrid superspud has been genetically engineered to create its own pesticide to try and outsmart the adaptable beetle pests once and for all. Dan Grossman has this spud report.

A tiny insect has saved Benin, Africa from possible famine. Scientists discovered and then imported a natural predator wasp to kill off mealy-bugs that were devastating the nation’s staple cassava harvest. David Baron of member station WBUR reports.

South American potato farmers are seeing a notorious pest in a new light. It turns out the saliva of the Guatemalan potato moth may actually help increase tuber yields.

Scientists are discovering humans aren’t the only species to seek comfort in carbs.

For people living in the tropics, cassava is one of the most important foods. But if it’s not properly processed, eating it can lead to cyanide poisoning. Living on Earth’s Diane Toomey reports on a new, genetically-modified cassava plant that’s cyanide-free.