b'WORLD POTATO CONGRESSThe World Potato Congress More Than Just a CongressIN 1993, the first World Potato Congress (WPC) wasVice-President Nora Olsen. Topics cover all sectors of held in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island.the potato value chain including pest and diseases, This first congress became the launchpad for whatproduction, and marketing and are presented by a has become 30 years of triennial congresses and tradeglobally diverse group of experts. Examples of recent shows, providing networking opportunities to potatospeakers include one of our international advisors, industry representatives from around the world. Julio Kalazich, an agronomy professor at Universidad In its current governance format, the WPC functionsle Los Lagos in Chile speaking on potato breeding as a nonprofit organization operated by an electedprograms in the South American cone countries, volunteer board of 10 international directors. TheAlison Lees, a potato pathologist at The James Hutton ELLENWPC board receives additional guidance from a groupInstitute on potato skin blemish diseases, International KOUWENBERG,of eight appointed international advisors, who areTransport and the Global Potato Value Chain by executive director of the Worldrespected by the board as having the pulse of theEasyFresh and World Potato Output and Trade by Potato Congress potato industry within their regions of the world.Cedric Porter with World Potato Markets. We look As we look back on this 30th anniversary, we seeforward to a United Nations Economic Commission for how the WPC has evolved into much more than justEurope (UNECE) discussion panel in May, led by WPC holding the (now biennial) congress. RecognizingDirector and Board Secretary Nigel Crump of Australia. that the potato is the third most important food cropMany more can be found on the WPC website. globally, its feeding communities and providing muchDirectors Jaap Delleman, chief editorial director for needed income for farmers across all nations. OverPotato World Magazine and Andr Devaux, a scientist the years, partnerships between WPC and variousemeritus at the International Potato Center, will be countries and non-governmental organizationscarrying this initiative forward in 2023.(NGOs) have been formed to collaborate on addressingDevaux and other directors also work closely on food insecurity. These relationships include thebehalf of WPC with various international bodies bringing together of global knowledge, resourcesincluding the UNECE and the Food and Agriculture and expertise, which in turn provides educationalOrganization of the United Nations on various opportunities in such areas as seed production,initiatives, most recently formulating a proposal which, pest and disease management, and the potato valueif approved by, will launch the first ever International chains. WPC has also added, through funding ofPotato Day.sustaining partners, scholarship opportunities forAs we look ahead to the next congress and trade delegates to attend the congress. Success stories areshow, WPC is excited to see the programming come shared on the WPC website and include reach intotogether for Adelaide, Australia in June, 2024. The Ethiopia, China, Philippines, Kenya, Peru, and more.planning and programming has ramped up for this Through additional initiatives by the Irish Aid, fundingevent over the past few weeks, and is expected to was offered for over 40 delegates to attend the 2022include a two to three day tour through the South congress. Australia potato country post-congress. WPC President Peter VanderZaag notes that,WPC looks forward to welcoming you to Australia Fostering partnerships allows combining experiential,in June 2024. For more information on the Congress, communications and financial resources to assist inwebinars, and our sustaining partner program visit our goal of greater food security for those vulnerablewww.potatocongress.org. environments caused by war, climate change or otherPast congresses have included P.E.I. in 1993; extraordinary circumstances. We are not just engagingHarrogate, UK in 1994; Durban, South Africa in 1997; the NGOs, we are engaging a group of sustainingAmsterdam, Netherlands in 2000; Kunming, China in partners whose funding provides supports to these2004; Boise, Idaho in 2006; Christchurch, New Zealand global issues being addressed by WPC. in 2009; Edinburgh, Scotland in 2012; Yanqing, China Over nine months of the year, virtual educationalin 2015; Cusco, Peru in 2018; Dublin, Ireland in 2022; opportunities exist via WPC webinars initiated by WPCand Adelaide, Australia in 2024. 50SPUDSMART.COM Spring 2023'