The 11th World Potato Congress is brought to you by the Irish Potato Federation (IPF), sponsored by DAFM, Bord Bia, Teagasc and a wide range of sponsors from across the global potato industry. Hosting this unique, global event was a major coup for the IPF who competed with several other countries to win a highly competitive bid in 2018. To date, the World Potato Congress (WPC) has been held on all seven continents, with previous host countries including Canada, China, Peru, USA, and New Zealand.

Consumption

· The potato is the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption.
· Global monthly consumption of potatoes per capita is 32.4kg which equates to an average of 7 medium potatoes per person per day, according to 2019 UN FAOSTAT figures.
· The world’s largest consumers of potatoes are (ranked in order): Belarus, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Poland and Ukraine.
· In Ireland we consume over 2.5 times the global average.

Production:

· More than 150 countries grow potatoes and the world’s largest producers of potatoes ranked in order are: China, India, Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
· Almost a third of all the world’s potatoes are harvested in China and India.
· Potatoes can grow from sea level up to 4,700 meters above sea level; from southern Chile to Greenland.
· Potato production is at record levels with the fastest growth in area in Africa.
· World potato yields are at record levels at nearly 22 tonnes/hectare, making it one of the highest yielding crops of all — 5 times higher than rice.

Sustainability and development:

· Potatoes produce more food per unit of water than major grain crops and are up to seven times more efficient in using water than cereals. Many countries are turning to the potato to feed their growing populations, valuing its environmental qualities and ability to use water and land more effectively than other crops.