Chile

Potato production in Chile is primarily concentrated in the provinces between Coquimbo in the north and Chiloé in the south, including Chiloé Island, where potatoes were cultivated even in pre-Columbian times. This fertile region remains the core of Chile’s potato farming industry.

The Chilean commercial potato market is dominated by three main varieties: Desirée, Cardinal, and Ultimus, which together represent around 80% of total production. Two additional varieties, Romano and Yagana, contribute another 10–15%. Chile is also known for Papa Cacho, a traditional landrace potato native to the Guaitecas Archipelago, which is valued for its cultural and agricultural significance.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global potato production in 2023 reached 843.1 million tonnes. In 2021, global per capita potato consumption (fresh and processed, crop equivalent) was 49.36 kg per year.

The potato originated in the Andes, but genetic studies show that most modern potato varieties cultivated around the world can be traced back to specific cultivars from the Chiloé Archipelago in southern Chile. 

In the 1700s, Andean potato varieties were the most common in European cultivation. However, the introduction of Chilean germplasm, especially from Chiloé, in the 1800s was crucial in shaping the global distribution and development of modern potato crops.