UNITED NATIONS, May 31 (APP): Countries around the world celebrated the second observance of the International Day of Potato on Friday, highlighting the crop’s 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’s theme is “Shaping History, Feeding the Future,” according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s website.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu has emphasized that the potato is far more than a staple crop – it is a vital contributor to food security, livelihoods, and sustainability across the globe.
“Today we celebrate not just a crop, but a symbol of resilience, adaptability and untapped potential,” the Director-General said. “Potatoes have nourished millions of people for hundreds of years and continue to shape the course of global agrifood systems,” Qu said in a video message to a high-level ceremony held at FAO headquarters in Rome.
The 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.
Domesticated in the Andes thousands of years ago, the potato has grown into one of the world’s 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.
The potato’s high yield, adaptability and nutritional value make it a reliable crop in diverse environments—from mountainous regions to urban markets.
“The potato contributes to healthy and affordable diets and nutrition, supports the livelihoods of millions, especially small-scale farmers and rural communities,” Qu said.
The potato is rich in nutrients including vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber. It is also one of the most resource-efficient crops, producing more food using less land and water—and with a smaller environmental footprint than many major crops.
Yet potato production is increasingly under threat from climate variability, pests and diseases, soil degradation and market volatility.
The Director-General called for renewed action to support farmers and build resilience across the potato value chain, noting that:
“We need to strengthen the resilience of potato value chain to ensure food availability, food accessibility and food affordability.”