As prices for wheat and rice rise, the potato is being recognized as a valuable and nutritious crop that could help feed a hungry world. Originating from Peru, potatoes can thrive in various climates and elevations, requiring minimal water and maturing quickly. They can produce more food per hectare compared to wheat or rice. Pamela Anderson, director of the International Potato Center, emphasizes the importance of potatoes in ensuring food security amidst potential shortages in the global food supply. The potato is being recognized for its potential to alleviate hunger caused by rising food prices, a growing population, increasing costs for fertilizer and diesel, and more land being used for biofuel production. The United Nations designated 2008 as the International Year of the Potato to bring attention to its value as a "hidden treasure". Governments, such as Peru's, are also promoting the use of potatoes as a solution to rising wheat prices by encouraging bakers to make bread with potato flour. This potato bread is being distributed to school children, prisoners, and the military in hopes of starting a trend. Supporters claim that potato bread tastes just as delicious as wheat bread, but there are not enough mills producing potato flour. Ismael Benavides, Peru's agriculture minister, 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, Peruvians consume fewer potatoes than Europeans. Belarus is the top consumer of potatoes worldwide, with each person in the country eating an average of 376 pounds (171 kg) annually. India aims to double its potato production in the next five to 10 years, according to food experts. China, a country that has historically experienced severe famines due to its heavy reliance on rice, is now the leading producer of potatoes globally. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the potato is experiencing significant growth compared to other crops. In Latvia, rising bread prices have led to a decrease in sales, with consumers opting to buy more potatoes instead. The developing world is seeing a surge in potato cultivation, providing an opportunity for impoverished farmers to increase their income. Anderson stated that countries are considering the potato as a viable option for improving food security and generating income. The potato is ranked as the third most important food crop globally, following wheat and rice. While corn is predominantly grown for animal feed, potatoes come in approximately 5,000 varieties. Peru is sending numerous seeds to the Doomsday Vault near the Arctic Circle to contribute to a gene bank for food crops as a precaution against a potential global catastrophe. Potatoes come in a variety of colors, shapes, textures, and sizes, providing creative chefs with the opportunity to create visually appealing dishes. Juan Carlos Mescco, a 17-year-old potato farmer in Peru, enjoys eating potatoes in various forms throughout the day. Potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates that release energy slowly and have a low fat content compared to wheat. They also have fewer calories than bread and are high in protein, calcium, vitamin C, iron, potassium, and zinc when boiled. Speculators are not interested in potatoes because they are not a global commodity like wheat, which attracts professional investors. Wheat production is almost double that of potatoes, with only about 5 percent of potatoes being traded internationally. Prices for potatoes are driven by local tastes rather than international demand, and the slow global trade in raw potatoes is due to their weight and tendency to rot during transit. They can also easily get infected with diseases which hinders their export to prevent the spread of plant diseases. However, the drawback is that prices in certain countries are not high enough to incentivize farmers to cultivate them. Locals in Peruvian markets believe that the government should intervene to increase demand. Juana Villavicencio, who has been growing potatoes for 15 years, stated that the low prices make it unprofitable to work with potatoes. She now sells them for very little money at a market in Cusco, located in the southern Andes region of Peru. Science is advancing quickly, with German chemicals group BASF working on developing genetically modified potatoes that can resist "late blight." This disease caused famine in Ireland in the 19th century and still results in approximately 20 percent of potato harvest losses worldwide. Researchers believe that farmers who plant virus-free seeds can increase their yields by 30 percent and be eligible for export. This could lead to higher income for farmers and increased production, as companies would be able to sell specialty potatoes internationally rather than just as frozen french fries or potato chips.