Because the PATATEM blog is born

The potato is the product, not cereal, number one in the world with a production of 400 billion kilos of products every year and ranks fourth in the world among the most cultivated agricultural foods on the

planet

after corn, rice and wheat. The commonly grown potato (Solanum Tuberosum) belongs to the large Solanaceae family, which includes thousands of species, including tomatoes, aubergines, peppers and the tobacco plant. Native to South and Central America, the potato is becoming an increasingly important staple food around the world. This is because potatoes contain important nutritional elements for our health such as fiber, iron, potassium and vitamins B and C; they do not contain fat, have few calories and an inviting taste. The projected decline in water resources over the coming decades puts potatoes in a more advantageous position than other major food crops in terms of efficient production of dry matter, protein and energy. Thanks to the many specific qualities, potatoes can grow well in the most varied climatic and production conditions around the world. According to forecasts, the world's population will

grow

by 100 million people every year over the next 20 years, 95% of whom will be born in developing countries, causing even greater pressure on land and water. With the recent global increase in food prices, driven by the reduction in the production of raw materials such as wheat, corn and rice, the world's attention shifts to the millennial cultivation of potatoes which could help control inflation on food prices. foodstuffs. Unlike the main cereals, only a part of potato production enters international trade and prices in general are determined by local production costs, not by the fluctuation of the world market. This makes potato growing suitable for food security, as it can help low-income farmers and vulnerable consumers get through the current moment of instability between food supply and demand. The ease of its cultivation and its high energy content have made it a valuable commercial product for millions of farmers. Up to eighty-five percent (85%) of

the

plant is edible for humans, compared to 50% for cereals. Due to its high carbohydrate content it is an excellent source of energy. It has the highest protein content (around 2.1% of the weight of the fresh product) of the root and tuber family, its proteins are of good quality and the amino acids correspond to human needs; they also contain an abundance of vitamin C and a fifth of the recommended daily value of potassium. The forecasts for the consumption of this poor but precious food are for strong growth in the future: the consumption of potatoes in the world

has

gone from less than 10 kg per person in the early 1960s to over 45 kg per person. -capita at the beginning of the new millennium and, although declining in the now rich and saturated Europe, our continent is still in the lead with about 90 kg / year consumed per inhabitant. This blog wants to help create a greater awareness of the decisive role of the Humble Tuber ”

for

agriculture, the economy and world food security. Promote knowledge on the production and marketing of the potato that could become ” food of the future ”.