International Day of the Potato

The third observance of the International Day of Potato, will be held on 30 May 2026, under the theme Where potatoes grow, livelihoods flourish emphasizes the role of potatoes in strengthening livelihoods for farmers and value chain actors from the highlands of the Andes to Africa, Europe, Asia and beyond. By advancing potato farming and value chain development, the crop contributes to poverty reduction, resilience and more inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems. Join us on Friday, 29 May 2026 (as 30 May falls on a Saturday), for the main global event hosted in the Kingdom of Lesotho and a complementary event at FAO headquarters, championed by the Government of Peru and Spain in collaboration with other Members. Additionally, from 29 May to 5 June, visit the Journey of the Potato exhibition at the FAO Museum close to the Food lab and explore the global journey of the potato spanning 8 000 years and tracing the potato’s roots to its birthplace near Lake Titicaca in the Andes Mount...

Unlike external food fortification methods, which require continuous intervention, biofortified potatoes integrate higher nutrient levels directly into the crops themselves, providing a long-term, cost-effective, and self-sustaining solution to global malnutrition. These potatoes can be grown, stored, and consumed like traditional potatoes, requiring no drastic dietary changes for populations already reliant on the crop. Governments, NGOs, and international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) , the International Potato Center (CIP) , and HarvestPlus are actively promoting the development and distribution of biofortified potatoes in nutrient-deficient regions . Continued investment in research and agricultural development is essential to scale up production and make biofortified potatoes accessible to millions more people in need . By enhancing the nutritional value of one of the world’s most widely consumed crops, biofortified potatoes represent a transformati...

Eaten by over one billion people , the potato is the third most available food crop globally – after rice and wheat, making it a crucial staple. And today for the first time, it was celebrated with its very own International Day, as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and partners highlighted the potato’s significance and called for more investments to tap into its full potential. “The potato has been the most important lifesaving, staple food and nutritious vegetable in the world,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said in a video message to mark the event, under the theme of “Harvesting diversity, feeding hope”. Qu added that in Europe, the increase of potato production after the 16th century following Christopher Colombus’ return from the Americas with the potato, which originated in the Andes, has impacted food security dramatically. Participants in a high-level event at FAO’s headquarters to mark the day included Angel Manuel Manero Campos, Minister of A...

 During the International Year of the Potato , celebrated in 2008, FAO and CIP helped forge partnerships worldwide to address critical aspects of sustainable potato production. This technical guide collates that experience to review technical, socio-economic, policy and institutional factors that currently constrain increased potato production and productivity in tropical and subtropical countries. It presents Good Agriculture Practices relevant to potato production, and indicators and recommendations for action in key areas, from the utilization of potato biodiversity and improvements in seed systems, to soil management, insect pest and disease control and opportunities for value addition. It outlines a new policy and research agenda for the potato subsector that aims at making a real contribution to the eradication of hunger and poverty. Read the full publication on the Sustainable Potato production .