August 2, 2015

Chinese officials are looking to the potato to fill a void in the population’s diet due to persistent water problems including shortages and excessive use that have interfered with grain production. This has compromised the supply of common food items rice and noodles.

China currently produces 95 million tons of potatoes each year, which represents 25 percent of the world’s supply. The nation is looking to ramp up production to 130 million tons annually by 2020, according to government officials at the World Potato Congress held in Yanqing, Beijing in recent days.

“In China, the potato industry is no longer an industry for underdeveloped areas or the poor but highlights the country’s modern agricultural drive and enriches people’s dining tables,” according to Agriculture Minister Han Changfu at the conference.

Overuse of underground water by the farming community including wheat farmers has caused damage to the North China Plain region. For instance, in Hebei, farmers are now prohibited from planting wheat in an attempt to preserve water and the land. Irrigation practices, such as digging, have triggered hazardous sinking and landslides, according to officials at the conference.

The World Potato Congress believes potatoes are key to global food security and seeks to raise awareness about the features of the crop. Potatoes, for instance, pack more protein and energy per acre versus competing crops, according to David A. Thompson, president of the World Potato Congress, cited in AgWeek. Conference participants also touted the versatility of the potato, which can be used as a key ingredient to make food staple items such as bread in addition to meals including pasta and dumplings or desserts, such as cookies.