As a staple food for two-thirds of the world’s population, it’s safe to say that the potato, with its more than 4,000 varieties, is one of the most important pillars of global food security.
But until now, the crop’s many benefits for nutrition, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience have flown under the radar outside of Peru, where the tuber was domesticated some 8,000 years ago and remains a piece of national patrimony.
At long last, this is set to change with the United Nations observing the inaugural International Day of Potato on May 30, allowing this vital food crop to finally receive its day in the sun.
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About the author
Simon Heck
Simon Heck is senior director at CGIAR and was appointed director-general of the International Potato Center in February 2023.
