Making potato a staple promotes healthy diet

With better crop varieties, empowering smallholder farmers with sustainable methods to produce nutrient-rich potato varieties is another step in the value chain. Growing constraints in natural resources, such as limited irrigation water and declining arable land will not curb the production of potatoes in China, because as an environmentally friendly crop, potatoes require relatively less water to grow, are more resistant to dry weather and thrive well on marginally land. Together with resource-efficient technologies and practices, market-based price stabilization mechanisms should also be instituted to help smallholder farmers to make profits.

Moving down the value chain, International Food Policy Research Institute research shows that modern post-harvest handling facilities are lacking in Gansu province, which is the largest producer of potatoes in China. Scaled-up investment in proper methods to process and store potatoes will be needed to reduce losses and preserve nutrients. In India and Bangladesh, for example, cold storage facilities allow farmers to benefit during the off-season. Farmers in Gansu could benefit from similar facilities.

At the processing stage, researchers have mentioned the use of potato flour for noodles and buns. Here, technologies to maintain potatoes' nutrients will be critical, as rice and wheat lose a lot of their nutrients during processing. If that is ensured, consumers will not be forced to eat over-processed and thus unhealthy foods, as many fear. Consumer education campaigns to influence healthy eating will be key in shifting from rice, wheat and corn to potatoes and more nutrient-rich foods.

More importantly, diversifying Chinese diets will require similar measures to increase production and consumption of fruits, vegetables and animal proteins. Fresh fruits and vegetables, in particular, are a vital part of a healthy diet. Dietary fiber from fresh fruits and vegetables helps digestion and nutrient absorption. Research shows that under-consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is one of the top causes of micronutrient deficiency and higher prevalence of chronic diseases.

These actions could help address the multiple burdens of malnutrition that China faces. Investment in good nutrition has high returns that persist for generations - it is an opportunity that should not be missed.

The author is director general of International Food Policy Research Institute.