South America

In 2023, South America produced approximately 17.39 million metric tons of potatoes, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), underscoring the region’s vital role in global potato cultivation. Peru leads in biodiversity, cultivating over 3,800 native potato varieties across its Andean highlands, where traditional agricultural practices like terracing, organic fertilization, and natural pest control support sustainable production. Bolivia and Colombia also maintain significant genetic diversity in potato farming, blending ancestral knowledge with modern agronomic practices to boost yields and climate resilience. Argentina, a major commercial producer, focuses on high-yield varieties such as Spunta and Kennebec, supported by mechanized cultivation and irrigation systems. These countries not only contribute to the global potato supply but also preserve the crop's genetic heritage.

Potato domesticated between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago near Lake Titicaca in southern Peru and northwestern Bolivia, holds a central place in the agricultural history of South America and was a vital crop for ancient Andean civilizations such as the Inca. Archaeological evidence from sites like Ancón in central Peru reveals potato remains dating back to 2500 BCE, highlighting its longstanding cultivation. The Andean people developed thousands of potato varieties, adapting them to diverse microclimates and altitudes using innovative farming methods like terracing and producing chuño, a freeze-dried potato product that ensured year-round food availability. This early agricultural ingenuity laid the foundation for the potato’s spread and global importance.

Today, the Andes remain the global center of potato biodiversity, with over 4,000 native varieties—3,000 in Peru alone—still grown primarily by smallholder farmers using a blend of traditional and modern practices. The International Potato Center (CIP), founded in 1971 in Lima, Peru, continues to preserve this rich genetic heritage and support research in disease resistance, food security, and sustainable farming. This chronological journey underscores the potato's cultural, agricultural, and economic significance in South America and its evolution into a global food staple.