Humble Spud Could Solve Food Crisis

International 'Year of the Potato' to highlight tuber's virtues

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 15, 2008 2:39 AM CDT

(Newser) – Sharp hikes in the prices of staples like wheat and rice are sending shockwaves around the world and convincing governments to rediscover the virtues of the potato, Reuters reports. Spuds are nutritious, will grow just about anywhere, and they yield up to four times more food per acre than other staples. Peruvians, faced with soaring wheat prices, have been switching to potato bread.

"We have to change people's eating habits," said Peru's minister of agriculture. "People got addicted to wheat when it was cheap."

A group of army bakers prepare bread made with potatoes on an army base in Lima, Monday, March 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

A farmer selects potatoes during a harvest in Huancavelica, southern Peru, May 28, 2007 at 3,950 meters above sea level. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

A farmer arranges potatoes from different varieties after the harvest in Huancavelica, southern Peru. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

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Humble Spud Could Solve Food Crisis

International 'Year of the Potato' to highlight tuber's virtues

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Another Key Shortage: Fertilizer

Prices skyrocket, ingredients scarce as growing population demands more food

As World's Belly Rumbles, Gluttonous US Tosses Food

27% of available food ends up in the trash

US Predicts Bumper Crops Will Ease Food Crisis

Record-breaking grain harvests worldwide expected to bring prices back down

Save a Food From Extinction: Eat It for Dinner

'Food coalitions' aim to keep ingredients, recipes key to US heritage in circulation

Bush: $770M Needed For Food Aid

Congress must approve money, part of a larger Iraq funding measure

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Humble Spud Could Solve Food Crisis

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

food • farming • Peru • crops • food prices • food shortage • food supply • potato

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Another Key Shortage: Fertilizer

Prices skyrocket, ingredients scarce as growing population demands more food

As World's Belly Rumbles, Gluttonous US Tosses Food

27% of available food ends up in the trash

US Predicts Bumper Crops Will Ease Food Crisis

Record-breaking grain harvests worldwide expected to bring prices back down

Save a Food From Extinction: Eat It for Dinner

'Food coalitions' aim to keep ingredients, recipes key to US heritage in circulation

Bush: $770M Needed For Food Aid

Congress must approve money, part of a larger Iraq funding measure

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Newser By Users

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