The rise in wheat and rice prices has led to a newfound appreciation for the humble potato, which was previously criticized for being bland and fattening. Native to Peru, potatoes can be grown in various climates and elevations, require little water, mature quickly, and have a high yield compared to wheat and rice. Pamela Anderson, director of the International Potato Center in Lima, believes that potatoes could help address the global food supply challenges. The potato is being considered as a solution to hunger caused by rising food prices, a growing population, increased costs for fertilizer and diesel, and more land being used for biofuel production. In recognition of this, the United Nations declared 2008 the International Year of the Potato, referring to it as a "hidden treasure". Governments, including Peru's, are promoting the use of potato flour to make bread as a way to combat high wheat prices. Potato bread is being distributed to school children, prisoners, and the military in the hopes of popularizing the trend. Supporters argue that potato flour tastes just as good as wheat bread, but there are not enough mills producing it. Ismael Benavides, Peru's agriculture minister, believes that people's eating habits need to change as they became addicted to wheat when it was cheap. Despite the potato being originated in Peru 8,000 years ago, Peruvians consume fewer potatoes than Europeans. Belarus is the world leader in potato consumption, with each person devouring an average of 376 pounds (171 kg) a year. India aims to double potato production in the next five to 10 years, according to food experts. China, a country with a long history of famines due to rice shortages, is now the leading producer of potatoes worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the potato is experiencing the most growth compared to other crops. Some consumers are even opting for potatoes over traditional staples. In Latvia, rising bread prices have caused a 10-15% decrease in sales, while potato purchases have increased by 20%. The developing world is seeing the most growth in potato crops, providing opportunities for low-income farmers to increase their earnings through higher consumption. Anderson stated that countries are considering potatoes as a beneficial option for ensuring food security and generating income. The potato is ranked as the third most crucial food crop globally, following wheat and rice. While corn is commonly grown, it is primarily utilized for animal feed. Despite the common association of potatoes with the plain Idaho variety in America, there are actually around 5,000 different types of potatoes. Peru is contributing to a gene bank for food crops by sending thousands of seeds to the Doomsday Vault near the Arctic Circle this year, in preparation for potential global disasters. Potatoes come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, offering creative chefs 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 provide slow-release energy and have a low fat content compared to wheat. Boiled potatoes have more protein and calcium than corn and contain vitamin C, iron, potassium, and zinc. Speculators are not interested in investing in potatoes because they are not a global commodity like wheat. Wheat production is much higher than potato production, and a smaller percentage of potatoes are traded internationally. Prices for potatoes are influenced more by local preferences than international demand. Additionally, the transportation of raw potatoes is difficult due to their weight and perishability, which has hindered global trade in this commodity. They are also vulnerable to becoming infected with pathogens, which hinders their ability to be exported in order to prevent the spread of plant diseases. The drawback of this is that the prices for these crops in certain countries are not enticing enough to convince farmers to cultivate them. Individuals 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 for very little money in a market in Cusco, in Peru's southern Andes, expressed, "Prices are low. It is not profitable to work with potatoes." Science is progressing rapidly, with German chemicals group BASF developing genetically modified potatoes that can resist "late blight." This disease, which caused famine in Ireland in the 19th century and still results in approximately 20 percent of potato harvest losses globally, can be combatted by using clean, virus-free seeds, according to scientists. By doing so, farmers could increase their yields by 30 percent and gain approval for exporting their crops. This would not only lead to higher income for farmers but also incentivize more production as companies would be able to sell specialty potatoes internationally, rather than just as frozen french fries or potato chips.