With the rising prices of wheat and rice, the once overlooked potato is now being recognized as a valuable and nutritious crop that could help feed a growing population. Potatoes, originally from Peru, can be grown in various climates and require minimal water. They mature quickly and have a high yield compared to wheat or rice. The International Potato Center in Lima is researching the potato family to address food security concerns, as the world faces potential food shortages. The potato is seen as a key part of the solution. The potato is being recognized for its potential as a solution to hunger caused by rising food prices, a growing population, increasing costs for fertilizer and fuel, and more land being used for biofuel production. The United Nations designated 2008 as the International Year of the Potato to draw attention to this, calling it a valuable resource. Governments, including Peru's, are promoting the use of potatoes as an alternative to wheat, with programs encouraging the use of potato flour in bread-making for various groups in hopes of starting a trend. Supporters argue that potato flour tastes just as good as wheat bread, but there are not enough mills producing it. Peru's agriculture minister, Ismael Benavides, believes that people's eating habits need to change as they became addicted to wheat when it was cheap. Despite the potato originating in Peru 8,000 years ago, Peruvians consume fewer potatoes compared to Europeans. Belarus is the world leader in potato consumption, with each person consuming an average of 376 pounds (171 kg) per year. India has expressed its desire to double potato production within the next five to 10 years. China, a country with a long history of devastating famines due to its reliance on rice, has now become the leading producer of potatoes in the world. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the potato is experiencing rapid growth compared to other crops. Some consumers are making the switch to potatoes, as seen in Latvia where bread sales dropped due to price increases while potato purchases increased. The majority of new potato crops are being planted in the developing world, offering poor farmers the opportunity to increase their income as demand for potatoes rises. Anderson stated that countries themselves are considering the potato as a viable option for ensuring food security and generating income. Despite being the world's third most important food crop, potatoes are often associated with the plain Idaho variety by Americans, when in reality there are 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. Potatoes come in a variety of colors, shapes, textures, and sizes, allowing chefs to create visually appealing dishes. A young potato farmer in Peru's Andes, Juan Carlos Mescco, 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 are a good source of protein, calcium, vitamin C, iron, potassium, and zinc when boiled. Speculators are not interested in potatoes, which helps to keep them affordable. Unlike wheat, potatoes are not a global commodity, so they have not attracted professional investment from speculators. Wheat production is nearly double that of potatoes, with only about 5 percent of potatoes being traded internationally. Prices for potatoes are mainly influenced by local tastes rather than international demand, as they are heavy and can easily rot during transportation, limiting global trade. They are also prone to getting infected with pathogens, which hinders their export to prevent the spread of plant diseases. However, in certain countries, the prices are not high enough to incentivize farmers to cultivate them. Residents in Peruvian markets suggest that the government should intervene to increase demand. Juana Villavicencio, who has been planting potatoes for 15 years and now sells them at a low price in a market in Cusco, Peru, expressed, "Prices are low. It's not profitable to work with potatoes." Science is progressing quickly, with German chemicals group BASF working on developing genetically modified potatoes that can resist "late blight." This disease was responsible for causing famine in Ireland during the 19th century and still results in approximately 20 percent of potato harvest losses worldwide, according to the company. Researchers suggest that by utilizing clean, virus-free seeds, farmers can increase yields by up to 30 percent and gain approval for export. This could potentially lead to higher incomes for farmers and stimulate more production, allowing companies to sell specialty potatoes internationally rather than just as frozen french fries or potato chips.