International Potato Day: Why the Crop Matters

The potato is the 6th most produced crop in Portugal. In 2022, according to INE data, it reached a production of 319,833 tonnes, giving a productivity figure of 22.04 tonnes/hectare.

This crop contributes to better agricultural production, to people's nutrition, to the environment and to quality of life. Here is how!

Better agricultural production

• Developing, validating and making available sustainable agronomic practices;
• Improvements in breeding help to meet the demand for local varieties;
• Access is needed to quality seed from well-adapted, productive varieties;
• Farmers need support to access training and innovative technologies in order to increase yields and minimise losses and waste.

Better nutrition

• Potatoes are rich in vitamin C, which helps to prevent scurvy;
• Potatoes are rich in potassium, a nutrient that contributes to the proper functioning of the heart, the muscles and the nervous system.

A better environment

• Growing a broad range of varieties suited to local conditions can increase the resilience of cropping systems;
• Growing robust varieties that use inputs efficiently can reduce the environmental footprint;
• Intercropping potatoes with legumes, or crop rotation, requires fewer chemical fertilisers and reduces greenhouse gas emissions;
• Developing and disseminating environmentally friendly farming practices (e.g. precision irrigation).

Better quality of life

• The potato value chain, from cultivation through to processing for added value, packaging and marketing, offers decent employment opportunities;
• Potato-based snacks are a growing industry in urban areas;
• Small-scale farmers can improve their living conditions through better access to innovative technologies and markets.

Do you also think this crop deserves to be celebrated?

Tell us why!