The Mighty Potato: A Global Superfood for a Sustainable Future

Monica Parker | September 5, 2025

Potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse, a climate-friendly crop, and a powerful tool for economic development. In recognition of their vital role, the UN has set a goal to double global potato production in the next decade, with a special focus on developing regions to contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. In 2024, the UN also declared May 25th as the annual International Day of Potato. Versatility, robustness, nutritional value and being widely accepted in diets justify the importance of potato as the crop of the past, present and future.

A Nutritional Powerhouse

Potatoes are a nutritional superfood. They are rich in complex carbohydrates and contain more vitamin C than an orange, more potassium than a banana, and more fiber than an apple. A single medium potato provides about half of an adult’s daily vitamin C requirement, along with significant amounts of iron and zinc. Contrary to a common belief, most nutrients are in the potato’s flesh, not the peel.

Potatoes are especially important in regions with plant-based diets, as the high vitamin C content helps the body absorb iron from other foods, preventing iron deficiency and anemia. Additionally, potato protein is highly digestible and contains all nine essential amino acids, making it an excellent source for muscle growth and repair, particularly for children and pregnant women.

A Productive and Climate-Smart Crop

Potatoes are one of the most productive and resource-efficient crops in the world. They mature in just 3-4 months, much quicker than maize and rice, breaking the hunger gap and providing food and economic security faster.

Mary and Cecinta stand on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. Just a few years ago, Mary’s life was transformed when she gained access to high-quality seed potato from Cecinta’s seed nursery.

Potatoes are also remarkably land and water efficient, requiring 2 to 4 times less land than cereals to produce the same amount of edible matter. They can produce up to seven times more food and two to three times more calories for the same amount of water used in cultivation. This makes them a critical crop in irrigation based production systems and climates with erratic rainfall.

Furthermore, potatoes generally have a lower carbon footprint than rice, maize, and wheat. They require fewer fertilizers and are well-suited for regenerative farming practices like crop rotation and composting, which improve soil health and ecosystem diversity.

Driving Livelihoods in Developing Regions

Potatoes are a crucial tool for promoting food and economic security, especially in developing countries. Their adaptability allows them to be grown in diverse environments, from tropical islands to high-altitude deserts. They are a versatile crop that can be cultivated on large farms, in small plots, or even in sacks in urban backyards, making them accessible to marginalized groups and women with limited land. For example, in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, an estimated 16,000 women with limited landholdings are benefiting from potato production.

In 2019, Mary began producing her own seed within her half-acre plot. Her potato yield tripled, and her business flourished. Two years later, a new photo shows Mary and Cecinta standing beside building materials for a new home. Mary’s success allowed her to buy an adjacent plot of land and build a house for her adult child’s family.

Potato farming is also highly profitable. Potatoes have a high market value and offer a significant return on investment for smallholder farmers, allowing them to improve their quality of life. In Africa, where smallholder farmers produce up to 80% of the food, potato farming is rapidly gaining importance. Ethiopia alone has over a million potato farmers.

In large swaths of the potato growing world yields are abysmally low, presenting massive opportunities to increase food production at scale without increasing land under production. The tremendous potential for increased potato production in developing regions can be unlocked by providing farmers with high-quality seed potatoes, proper training and tools, and financial resources.

A Sustainable Future Rooted in the Potato

The potato’s nutritional value, profitability, and adaptability make it a powerful solution for addressing food, economic, and climate challenges globally. By investing in better seeds, farmer education, and market access, we can help unlock the full potential of the potato and contribute to a more sustainable future.

A detailed white paper on this subject is coming soon. Explore Viazi’s giving options to support food security, healthier climate, and self-sufficiency of smallholder farmers in Africa.

Monica Parker PhD has a career spanning greater than 17 years in agriculture and food systems development, with 12 years in the potato sector. She led interventions and collaborated with diverse profiles of public and private partners across 20+ countries.