International Potato Day: Peru Reaffirms Its Global Leadership in Biodiversity and Sustainable Production

Every May 30th, the International Potato Day is celebrated, a key date to recognize the relevance of this ancestral crop in food security and economic development of countries like Peru, considered the birthplace of the potato and global leader in the genetic diversity of the tuber. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), national potato production in February 2025 increased by 7.75%. This increase, driven by favorable climatic conditions, was mainly concentrated in the departments of Huánuco, Ayacucho, and Junín. In addition to its economic importance, the potato has a profound cultural and food value in Peru. The country is home to more than 3,500 potato varieties, of which more than 750 are native varieties registered by the National Agricultural Innovation Institute (INIA). These varieties are mainly preserved in regions such as Cusco, Puno, Cajamarca, Junín, and Ayacucho, where the INIA's germplasm banks are located. This genetic diversity is ...