2008 is International Year of the Potato
November 16, 2007| |
The spotlight is on the potato in 2008. During World Food Day 2007, the International Year of the Potato 2008 was officially launched at the United National headquarters in New York. Activities are lined up to increase awareness of the importance of the potato as a food in developing nations and in improving food security and poverty alleviation.
The potato has been reported to have been consumed in the Andes for about 8000 years. It was taken by the Spaniards to Europe in the 16th century where it quickly spread around the world. Today it is the world's No. 4 food crop wih more than half of total production obtained in developing countries. In 2006, almost 315 million tonnes or about 347 million US tons of potatoes were harvested.
For more on the potato, visit http://www.potato2008.org/en/index.html.
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