UNITED NATIONS
\nCountries around the world celebrated the second observance of the International Day of Potato on Friday, highlighting the crop\u2019s contribution to food security, livelihoods, and sustainability.
\nThe event was first marked in 2024 after an official proclamation by the United National General Assembly in December 2023.
\nThis year\u2019s theme is \u201cShaping History, Feeding the Future,\u201d according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)\u2019s website.
\nFAO Director-General QU Dongyu has emphasized that the potato is far more than a staple crop \u2013 it is a vital contributor to food security, livelihoods, and sustainability across the globe.
\n\u201cToday we celebrate not just a crop, but a symbol of resilience, adaptability and untapped potential,\u201d the Director-General said. \u201cPotatoes have nourished millions of people for hundreds of years and continue to shape the course of global agrifood systems,\u201d Qu said in a video message to a high-level ceremony held at FAO headquarters in Rome.
\nThe event was co-organized by the Embassy of Peru to the UN Rome-based agencies and included a video message from the President of Peru, Dina Boluarte.
\nDomesticated in the Andes thousands of years ago, the potato has grown into one of the world\u2019s top four food crops. It played a historic role in the global exchange of crops, and today it is a key food source in over 150 countries.
\nThe potato\u2019s high yield, adaptability and nutritional value make it a reliable crop in diverse environments\u2014from mountainous regions to urban markets.
\n\u201cThe potato contributes to healthy and affordable diets and nutrition, supports the livelihoods of millions, especially small-scale farmers and rural communities,\u201d Qu said.
\nThe potato is rich in nutrients including vitamin C, potassium and dietary fibre. It is also one of the most resource-efficient crops, producing more food using less land and water\u2014and with a smaller environmental footprint than many major crops.
\nYet potato production is increasingly under threat from climate variability, pests and diseases, soil degradation and market volatility.
\nThe Director-General called for renewed action to support farmers and build resilience across the potato value chain, noting that:
\n\u201cWe need to strengthen the resilience of potato value chain to ensure food availability, food accessibility and food affordability.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS Countries around the world celebrated the second observance of the International Day of Potato on Friday, highlighting the crop\u2019s contribution to food security, livelihoods, and sustainability. The event was first marked in 2024 after an official proclamation by the United National General Assembly in December 2023. This year\u2019s theme is \u201cShaping History, Feeding […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":482137,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-482126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national"],"yoast_head":"\n