As wheat and rice prices rise, the once overlooked potato is now being recognized for its nutritional value and potential to feed a growing population. Potatoes, originally from Peru, can be grown in various climates and require minimal water. They mature quickly and yield more food per hectare than wheat or rice. The International Potato Center in Lima is researching the potato family to address food security concerns. The potato is being seen 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. The United Nations designated 2008 as the International Year of the Potato to bring 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 high wheat prices, with the hope that this trend will spread among various groups like school children, prisoners, and the military. 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 addicted to 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 in the world, with each person eating an average of 376 pounds (171 kg) annually. India has expressed a desire to double its potato production within the next five to 10 years. China, a country with a long history of famine, has transitioned from being a major rice consumer to becoming the leading producer of potatoes worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa, potatoes are currently 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 poor farmers to increase their income as demand for the vegetable rises. Anderson mentioned that countries are considering the potato as a viable choice for ensuring food security and generating income. The potato is ranked as the third most important food crop globally, following wheat and rice. Despite being commonly associated with the plain Idaho variety in the United States, there are actually around 5,000 different types of potatoes available. Peru is contributing to a gene bank for food crops by sending thousands of seeds to the Doomsday Vault near the Arctic Circle, in preparation for any potential global disaster. 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 them in various ways throughout the day. Potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates that provide long-lasting energy and have a low fat content compared to wheat. They also have fewer calories than bread, more protein than corn, and higher calcium content when boiled. Additionally, potatoes 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 mainly influenced by local preferences rather than global demand. The heavy and perishable nature of raw potatoes has also hindered their global trade. They are also vulnerable to being infected by pathogens, which hinders their export to prevent the spread of plant diseases. However, the drawback is that the prices in certain countries are not appealing enough to incentivize farmers to cultivate them. Locals in Peruvian markets believe that the government should step in to boost demand. Juana Villavicencio, who has been planting potatoes for 15 years and now sells them for very low prices in a market in Cusco, Peru, expressed, "Prices are low. It is not profitable to work with potatoes." Science is progressing rapidly, with German chemicals group BASF working on developing genetically modified potatoes that can resist "late blight." This disease, which caused a famine in Ireland in the 19th century and still leads to about 20 percent of potato harvest losses worldwide, is being targeted by scientists. They propose that using clean, virus-free seeds can increase yields by 30 percent and allow for export clearance. This could result in higher incomes for farmers and the opportunity for companies to sell specialty potatoes internationally, rather than just as frozen french fries or potato chips.