The UN has decided to honor the potato. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO) on Saturday welcomed the establishment of an international day for this tuber. The objective is to “raise awareness” among public opinion about the key role of this culture in the fight against malnutrition.
The United Nations adopted a resolution on Friday proclaiming May 30 as International Potato Day, a “celebration” which, according to the FAO, will “highlight the importance of the potato for global agriculture, development economic, food security and nutrition. The UN had already made 2008 the international year of the potato, the FAO also recalled.
This annual celebration was defended by Peru, “which submitted a proposal for adoption to the United Nations General Assembly on the basis of a resolution of the FAO Conference of July 7, 2023,” the latter indicated.
In addition to the fight against famine, this world day will “encourage agricultural development, food security, conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functions,” declared Victor Garcia Toma, permanent representative of Peru to the General Assembly. of the United Nations. Peru, home to several thousand varieties of this tuber and an international potato center (CIP), is one of the cradles of this crop.
The UN proclaims May 30 as International Potato Day
