PERU
The humble potato is now being billed as a super tuber that could have broad implications for the world's food supply. Researchers, led by Carlos Arbizu at the International Potato Centre in Lima, believe that the root has a great potential to serve as a world food, considering its nutritional properties. The potato could also be a viable food alternative for poor communities throughout the world.
Scientists at the Centre's earthquake-proof Potato gene bank are currently studying nine distinctly Andean species of potatoes and predict that at least some of the species could, if properly managed and marketed, become important crops elsewhere. The Andean potatoes are different from the usual potatoes in terms of colour, skin texture and size. While some are purple, others are red, orange or yellow. The plus point of these potatoes are that they are quite sturdy and survive the most difficult conditions: poor mountain soil and altitudes as high as 12,000 feet.
Related Content
- Measures to enhance forest conservation and reduce deforestation: viewpoints and lessons from producing countries
- Leveraging technologies for gender equality in mining communities: case studies from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, and Peru
- Natural climate solutions and fire mitigation: early findings on the path to net zero
- The relations between climate change and child labour in agriculture
- Multilateral Development Bank efforts to mainstream climate adaptation: progress from the perspectives of three countries
- Investing in farmers: agriculture human capital investment strategies