International Potato Center

International Potato Center is a research-for-development organization that focuses on reducing poverty and improving food security through potato and sweet potato research. The center works with various partners, including United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, World Bank, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to achieve its goals. It is one of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centers, along with International Rice Research Institute, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, and International Center for Tropical Agriculture. The center's work is also supported by European Union, Australian Agency for International Development, and United States Agency for International Development.

● History

The International Potato Center was founded in 1971 by Richard L. Sawyer and is headquartered in Lima, Peru. The center's early work focused on potato breeding and seed production, with support from Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and International Development Research Centre. Over the years, the center has expanded its research to include sweet potato and other root and tuber crops, working with partners like International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Africa Rice Center, and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics. The center has also collaborated with University of Cambridge, University of California, Davis, and University of Queensland on various research projects.

● Organization

The International Potato Center is led by a Director General, who is responsible for overseeing the center's research and operations. The center has a diverse staff, including researchers from University of Oxford, University of Melbourne, and University of Toronto, as well as experts from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Health Organization, and International Fund for Agricultural Development. The center is governed by a Board of Trustees, which includes representatives from Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Peru), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Peru), and other partner organizations, such as International Potato Association and European Association for Potato Research.

● Research and Development

The International Potato Center conducts research on potato and sweet potato improvement, with a focus on developing climate-resilient and disease-resistant varieties. The center works with International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, International Institute for Environment and Development, and World Agroforestry Centre to develop sustainable agriculture practices and improve food security in developing countries. The center's research also focuses on nutrition and health, particularly in relation to micronutrient deficiency and obesity, in collaboration with World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

● Programs and Initiatives

The International Potato Center has several programs and initiatives aimed at improving food security and reducing poverty. The center's Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative works with private sector partners, such as Nestle and Unilever, to promote sweet potato production and consumption. The center's Potato and Sweetpotato Improvement Program collaborates with national agricultural research systems, such as Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, to develop and disseminate improved potato and sweet potato varieties. The center also participates in Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, International Alliance for the Improvement of Potato, and Global Forum on Agricultural Research.

● Partnerships and Collaborations

The International Potato Center partners with a range of organizations, including non-governmental organizations like Oxfam and Save the Children, private sector companies like Syngenta and Bayer, and research institutions like University of California, Berkeley and University of Wisconsin-Madison. The center also collaborates with international organizations, such as United Nations Development Programme, World Food Programme, and International Fund for Agricultural Development, to achieve its goals. The center's partnerships with national governments, such as Ministry of Agriculture (China), Ministry of Agriculture (India), and Ministry of Agriculture (Brazil), are also critical to its success.

● Impact and Achievements

The International Potato Center has made significant contributions to improving food security and reducing poverty in developing countries. The center's research has led to the development of high-yielding and disease-resistant potato and sweet potato varieties, which have been adopted by millions of smallholder farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The center's work has also improved nutrition and health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women, in collaboration with World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The center's impact has been recognized through various awards, including the King Baudouin International Development Prize and the Al-Sumait Prize for Food Security. Category:Agricultural research institutes