2008 - the International Year of the Potato: Potato Can Provide Food Security

UN Says Potato Can Provide Food Security, Eradicate Poverty
By Lisa Schlein  Geneva 06 November 2008

Schlein report - Download (MP3)  
Schlein report - Listen (MP3)  

As the International Year of the Potato 2008 winds down, the United Nations is appealing for continued global attention on the role the potato can play in providing food security and eradicating poverty in helping to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. It said the potato is a staple, nutritious food that can provide poor people with an inexpensive food that can stop hunger and keep people healthy.  Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva. 

" alt="Sweet potatoes, 23 Oct. 2008 " src="http://www.voanews.com/english/images/AFP_Sweet_potato_23OCT08.jpg" border="0" height="193" hspace="2" vspace="2" width="190">

Sweet potatoes, 23 Oct. 2008

To many people, the potato is an object of fun. Couch potato comes immediately to mind. But, the United Nations thinks the spud is a stud as far as it's ability to feed and preserve the planet. It goes so far as to say that the potato can help save the lives of many of the world's poor and hungry.  

Paolo Garonna is Officer in Charge of the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe. He noted the U.N. General Assembly resolution that launched 2008 as the International Year of the Potato stressed the link between the potato and the Millennium Development Goals.  more