The potato is the fourth most important food crop in the world and offers great potential as a food source for future generations. Recognizing this, the United Nations (UN) announced on 25 November 2005, at a conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the formal designation of 2008 as the International Year of the Potato.

The UN resolution notes that the potato is a staple food consumed worldwide and affirms the need to focus world attention on the role that the potato can play in providing food security and eradicating poverty in support of achieving internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. The resolution specifically mentions the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), so the International Potato Center (CIP by its Spanish acronym), representing the CGIAR, will collaborate closely with FAO to plan, develop and implement UN activities to mark the year. CIP will also take the lead in coordinating and implementing CGIAR activities, taking advantage of other Centers’ experience of year tags.

As the government of Peru nominated the potato to the UN for recognition in 2008, CIP will work with its host government to develop national activities. CIP will also work with its collaborating institutions and donors to highlight the important contribution that the potato can make to poverty alleviation, food security and human health. In addition, the Center will work to intensify research on the potato’s genetic resources, varieties, pests and diseases to continually increase crop productivity.

CIP has established a preliminary web page that will develop into a primary resource as the agenda develops. For further information contact Paul Stapleton, head of the CIP Communications and Public Awareness Department (p.stapleton@cgiar.org).