International Day of the Potato

 The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed May 30th as International Day of Potato in December 2023. Potatoes are eaten by more than one billion people around the world and are a vital food source. This guide provides a brief history of the potato from its origins in the Andes mountains to a global food staple as well as its profound impact on human beings and farming systems. It’s also a call to action for governments, civil society and non-government organizations, parents and educators to learn more about the potato and how it enriches our lives. The potato also offers enormous untapped potential. We can all get involved . Together we can Raise awareness and advance the potential of the potato to combat hunger and malnutrition .   

In 2025: The International Day of Potato  theme  'Shaping history, feeding the future' acknowledges the potato’s deep historical and cultural significance and its evolving role in today's global agrifood systems . The potato represents one of the most important contributions of the Andean region to the entire world , as it is one of the five main food crops consumed in the world, contributing to food security . There are more than 4,500 varieties of native potatoes , mostly found in the Andes. They come in many sizes and shapes.Each of these varieties fit into one of seven potato type categories: russet , red , white , yellow , blue/purple , fingerling , and petite . Small-scale and family farming production of the potato , particularly by rural farmers, including women farmers, supports efforts to reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty, and achieve food security, and relies on and contributes greatly to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.