New York - Russia and Peru may disagree over its historic origins, but the humble potato moved front and centre on the world's stage Thursday as UN officials launched the International Year of the Potato for 2008. The celebration aims to help some countries like Peru and China boost potato production and farmers' income, and to bring the world's fourth largest crop into the food pyramid for the poor.
The idea of a potato year was planted by Peru and developing countries in 2005 to raise awareness of the availability of food alternatives - after rice soaked up the spotlight several years ago.
Rice, wheat, maize and potatoes are the four major food staples for much of the world.
China, India and Russia produce 40 per cent of the world's potato crop, which increasingly has been adopted by developing countries.
Although rich nations plant fewer tubers these days, European nations, Russia and North America ate most of the annual production of 325 million tons in 2006, the UN said.
Peru's Minister of Agriculture Ismael Benavides sees export potential there, and said he believes the international year-long focus on the lowly spud will boost the country's shipments abroad, which currently amounts to less than 5 per cent of the annual crop of 3.3 million tons.
Some 600,000 families make a living planting potatoes in Peru, Benavides said, highlighting the importance of the crop in the nation's history and culture.
There are some 1,000 varieties of potato in Peru, he said at the launch at UN headquarters in New York.
Peru claims the potato originated in the high Andean mountains before Spanish conquistadors spread the commodity to Europe. Some European countries disagree, particularly Russia, which traditionally makes vodka from potatoes.
Whatever the origins, Benavides noted the potato was "an important source of food" for all people.
At an average cost of 15 US cents per kilogram, the potato is more affordable compared to the wheat's cost of 40 US cents a kilogram.
"The potato is an alternative source of food because it is cheaper," he said. "We raise the awareness of the commodity in term of food security and tradition because commercially, potato farming has been a tradition since the time of the Incas."
Peru created the International Potato Centre (CIP) in 1972 to focus on the importance of the tuber. The centre, with various international branches, has since helped improve quality and varieties in addition to the agricultural technology.
The dispute over the origins of the potato has simmered for 500 years. Peru's international centre cites various studies indicating the crop has survived and adapted to various environments since it was first found in high altitudes in the Andes in South America.
Some newly developed varieties of potatoes can now be planted in warm, humid and tropical Asian lowlands as well.
In Europe, the potato was said to have helped fuel the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, while also being blamed for Ireland's famine in the mid-19th century after it had adopted a potato mono- culture.
Jacques Diouf, director general of the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO,) said potato production has doubled in the past 15 years as the world has struggled to feed the poor.
"The international year will allow the UN to raise awareness of potato and participate in activities in World Food Day," Diouf said, referring to the event on each October 16 to call for renewed actions to end chronic hunger affecting nearly 1 billion people around the world.
To alleviate hunger and poverty around the world, FAO and UN specialized agencies said food and agricultural production should be increased by 60 per cent over the current food availability, and potato plays an important role.
