The humble potato is
now being billed as a
super tuber that could have
broad implications for the
world's food supply.
Researchers, led by Carlos
Arbizu at the International
Potato Centre in Lima,
believe that the root has a
great potential to serve as a
world food, considering its
nutritional properties. The
potato could also be a viable
food alternative for poor
communities throughout the
world.
Scientists at the Centre's
earthquake-proof Potato
gene bank are currently
studying nine distinctly
Andean species of potatoes
and predict that at least
some of the species could,
if properly managed and
marketed, become important crops elsewhere. The
Andean potatoes are different from the usual potatoes
in terms of colour, skin texture and size. While some are
purple, others are red,
orange or yellow. The plus
point of these potatoes are
that they are quite sturdy and
survive the most difficult
conditions: poor mountain
soil and altitudes as high as
12,000 feet.
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