Farmers in Peru are sending 1,500 varieties of potatoes to a “doomsday vault” in the Arctic Circle in order to safeguard the tubers’ future.
Potatoes are regarded as the world’s most important non-cereal crop, and have been eaten for about 8,000 years.
But native species from the highlands of South America appear to be at risk.
The samples will be stored in a vault inside a mountain, which aims to protect the world’s food crop species against natural and human disasters.
“Peruvian potato culture is under threat,” said Alejandro Argumedo, a plant scientist involved in the project. “The work we begin today will guarantee the availability of our incredible potato diversity for future generations.”
The samples being sent to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault are being provided by the Cusco Potato Park, which covers more than 10,000 hectares and was set up by six indigenous communities in order to protect biodiversity and protect food security in the region.
The Andes are homes to more than 4,000 varieties of native potato, and the park’s collection has attracted plant breeders from all over the world, searching for traits such as disease resistance, flavour or nutritional attributes. More
