Date: Saturday, 30th May 2026; 3rd Annual Day.
Sponsor: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Objectives:
- to highlight the potato’s nutritional, economic, environmental, and cultural benefits, and its role as a vital food source and income generator for rural families, in support of achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
Inception:
The International Day of Potato was formally observed for the first time on 30 May 2024.
History:
In 2008, the International Year of the Potato played a significant role in raising global awareness about the vital role of potatoes in agriculture, economic growth, and food security.
Building on this momentum, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference, at its forty-third session on July 7, 2023, adopted resolution 3/2023 to establish an “International Day of the Potato.”
Subsequently, on December 8, 2023, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated May 30 as the International Day of the Potato through resolution A/RES/78/123, making it an annual observance.
This special day serves as a global platform to reflect on the challenges and advancements in sustainable potato production, with the goal of supporting the transformation of agrifood systems worldwide.
Background:
The potato ranks among the world’s five principal food crops, playing a vital role in global food security. It is considered one of the most significant contributions from the Andean region to international agriculture.
Small-scale and family-based potato cultivation, particularly by rural producers and women farmers, is instrumental in advancing efforts to reduce hunger, malnutrition, and poverty while supporting food security initiatives. These agricultural practices both depend on and substantially contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity.
Official website:
https://www.fao.org/international-potato-day/en
