International Day of Potato: At inaugural celebration, FAO highlights crop’s significance and further potential
With a consumption exceeding one billion people worldwide, the potato holds the status of being the third most abundant food crop globally, following rice and wheat, solidifying its position as a crucial dietary staple. In a historic moment, the potato was commemorated with its inaugural International Day, emphasizing its importance, as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its partners advocated for increased investments to unlock its full potential.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, in a video message marking the occasion themed “Harvesting diversity, feeding hope,” hailed the potato as a vital and nutritious staple that has played a crucial role in global food security. He highlighted the significant impact of the potato on food security in Europe post the 16th century, following its introduction from the Americas by Christopher Columbus, where it originated in the Andes.
Dignitaries at the FAO headquarters high-level event included Angel Manuel Manero Campos, Peru’s Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation, who discussed efforts to ensure fair pricing for potato producers in his country, and Paula Narváez, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), who emphasized the potato’s role in achieving several UN Sustainable Development Goals.
During a special event, representatives from the World Potato Congress, the private sector, and the International Potato Center (CIP) shared insights and future plans related to the potato. This technical discussion, led by Peru, which spearheaded the UN General Assembly’s declaration of the International Day last year, with the support of Belgium, Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands, highlighted advancements in genetic enhancements, agronomics, and the importance of plant health. The participants called for collaborative efforts to address ongoing challenges in maximizing the potato’s potential.
Initiatives such as FAO’s One Country One Priority Product play a crucial role in unlocking the full potential of potatoes. For example, FAO is collaborating with Lesotho to enhance the value chain of this crop. In Peru, FAO is focused on preserving the genetic diversity of potatoes and improving their overall value chain through South-South Cooperation. Similarly, in Azerbaijan, FAO is partnering with the government to introduce new potato varieties and establish a national system for disease-free seeds.
FAO is actively engaged in organizations like the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and the International Plant Protection Convention to ensure access to potato genetic resources, promote fair benefit-sharing, and enhance Members’ capacities for safe potato trade.
To mark the International Day, FAO and Italy’s Coldiretti, the largest farmers’ association, hosted an event at Rome’s Campagna Amica farmers’ market. The event, themed “Producers supporting potato diversity,” featured Italian and Peruvian farmers and included a cooking demonstration and tasting of a traditional Italian potato dish
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