With the rising prices of wheat and rice, the once-dismissed potato is now being recognized as a valuable and nutritious crop that could help alleviate hunger in the world. Originating from Peru, potatoes can be grown in various climates and require minimal water, maturing quickly and yielding more food per hectare than wheat or rice. The International Potato Center in Lima, led by Pamela Anderson, is researching the potato family to address food security issues and believes that potatoes can play a significant role in solving the global food supply problem. The potato is being seen as a solution to the problem of hunger caused by rising food prices, a growing population, increasing costs for fertilizer and fuel, and more land being used for biofuels. The United Nations designated 2008 as the International Year of the Potato to draw attention to its potential as a valuable resource. Governments, such as Peru's, are promoting the use of potato flour in bread as a way to combat rising wheat prices, with the hope that this trend will spread to various sectors of society. Supporters claim that potato flour tastes just as good as wheat bread, but there are not enough mills producing it. Ismael Benavides, the agriculture minister of Peru, believes that people's eating habits need to change as they became accustomed to consuming wheat when it was inexpensive. Despite the potato originating in Peru 8,000 years ago near Lake Titicaca, Peruvians consume fewer potatoes than Europeans. Belarus leads the world in potato consumption, with each person consuming an average of 376 pounds (171 kg) annually. India aims to double its potato production within the next five to 10 years, as stated by food experts. China, a country with a long history of devastating famines due to its heavy reliance on rice, has now emerged as the leading producer of potatoes globally. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the potato is experiencing significant growth compared to other crops. Some consumers are making the switch to potatoes as a result. In Latvia, rising bread prices led to a decrease in sales by 10-15 percent in the first two months of the year, while potato sales increased by 20 percent, according to food producers. The majority of new potato crops are being planted in the developing world, where increased consumption provides an opportunity for poor farmers to earn more income. Anderson stated that countries are considering the potato as a valuable option for enhancing food security as well as generating income. The potato is ranked as the world's third most significant food crop, following wheat and rice. Unlike corn, which is primarily utilized for animal feed, potatoes offer a diverse range of colors and flavors, with about 5,000 different varieties available. Peru is contributing to a gene bank for food crops by sending thousands of seeds to the Doomsday Vault near the Arctic Circle, which was established as a precaution for potential global disasters. Potatoes come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, allowing chefs to create visually appealing dishes. Juan Carlos Mescco, a 17-year-old potato farmer in Peru, enjoys eating potatoes in different ways throughout the day. Potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates that provide slow-release energy and have a low fat content compared to wheat. They also have fewer calories than bread and more protein and calcium when boiled. In addition, potatoes contain vitamin C, iron, potassium, and zinc, making them a nutritious choice. One reason why potatoes have remained affordable is because they are not a global commodity like wheat, which has attracted speculative professional investment. Wheat production is almost double that of potatoes, with only about 5 percent of potatoes traded internationally. Prices for potatoes are mainly influenced by local tastes, rather than international demand, due to the difficulty of transporting raw potatoes and the risk of them rotting in transit. They are also prone to becoming infected by harmful organisms, which limits their export opportunities in order to prevent the spread of plant diseases. However, the drawback is that the prices in certain countries are not enticing enough to encourage farmers to cultivate them. Locals in Peruvian markets suggest that the government should intervene to boost demand. Juana Villavicencio, who has been planting potatoes for 15 years and now sells them at a low price in a market in Cusco, in Peru's southern Andes, expressed, "Prices are low. It is not profitable to work with potatoes." Science is advancing quickly, with German chemicals group BASF developing genetically modified potatoes that can resist "late blight." This disease, which caused a famine in Ireland in the 19th century and still results in around 20 percent of potato harvest losses globally, is a major concern. Researchers suggest that by using clean, virus-free seeds, farmers could increase yields by 30 percent and be eligible for export. This could lead to higher incomes for farmers and stimulate more production, as companies could sell specialized potatoes internationally, rather than just as frozen french fries or potato chips.