WPC | ALAP | CUSCO, PERU | 2018

André Devaux and Miguel Ordinola

International Potato Center (CIP). Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) Regional Program. Corresponding author’s email: a.devaux@cgiar.org; CIP-INCOPA@CGIAR.ORG

THE ROLE OF POTATO DIVERSITY IN FOOD SECURITY, NUTRITION AND COMPETITIVENESS: LESSONS FROM PERU

1. Brief historical background

2. Innovation for inclusive value chain development

3. Innovation to link Agriculture and Nutrition

4. Some reflections on the future

Content

THE PERUVIAN CONTEXT: GROWTH & INEQUALITY

HIGH ANDES RURAL REALITY

• 3,300 – 4,200 m.a.s.l: extreme climate

• Predominance of small-scale farmers (1 to 5 ha), weakly organized

• “Potato-based” livelihood system, dual purpose(food crop and source of income)

• Low potato productivity (8 t / ha)

• High vulnerability context (climate change)

High production risks, limited services and difficulty accessing urban markets

ANDEAN SMALL-SCALE FARMERS MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Mainly rural markets with low added value.

➢ Challenge: How to enhance small-scale farmers access to high valuemarkets?

➢ Opportunity: How to take advantageof the rich, nutritious and colorfulpotato biodiversity?

NATIVE POTATOES AS AN OPPORTUNITY

Rooted in Andean culture and economy…• Provide work for around 1,000,000 Andean

families, primarily in rural areas• More than 4,000 varieties cultivated

…but undervalued in modern society• Seen as a staple, “rural” food• Few native varieties in urban markets

POTATOES: BEYOND A COMMON CROP

2.

Innovation

Process

Research outputs:

Creative ideas,

methodologies

Dynamic Markets

New products,

added value,

Andean farmer’s asset::Potato biodiversity

Interaction with

different stakeholders

Capacity to

innovatePartnership, new

working relations

Producer Intermediary Wholesaler Processor Retailer Consumer

Commercial Innovations

Institutional Innovations

Technological Innovations

STIMULATING INNOVATION ALONG VALUE CHAINS

PARTICIPATORY

MARKET CHAIN

APPROACH

(PMCA)

COMMERCIAL INNOVATION: better differentiation in native potato marketing

Added value

COLORED POTATO CHIPS: product development and creative imitation

PERU

ECUADOR

Research

2015

2011-2013

Spaces dedicated to potatoes in Peruvian markets

- Supermarkets in 2014 -

BROAD RANGE OF ACTORS

SOME KEY ELEMENTS OF THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

Native potatoes: from basic subsistence food to a specialty, nutritious and high-value product.

• Research support from CIP and National research partners (INIA, Universities)

• Favorable economic and public policies (MINAGRI)• Committed private sector (supermarkets,

processing companies)• The gastronomic sector promoting native products • Support of the international community (Swiss

Agency for Development and Cooperation, European Union, IFAD…)

METHODOLOGIES: PMCA, Farmer Business School (FBS) User & Trainer Guides to Support Innovation and Scaling

Participatory variety selection

Improved seed

The market is a driver for other Innovations: Technologies for sustainable production intensification

Crop Management and IPM

TRENDS: Potato production (000t) in Peru (3-year moving averages)

Source: Department of Economic and Statistical Studies. Ministry of Agriculture. Peru.Note: Years shown on the horizontal axis represent the mid-points of the corresponding 3-year average. For example, 1962 represents 1961/1963.

Farm-gate potato prices, Peru (3-year movingaverages)

Source: Department of Economic and Statistical Studies. Ministry of Agriculture. Peru.

Fuente: Los cambios más significativos que los hombres y mujeres identifican en sus vidas a raíz de su articulación a nuevos canales de comercialización. 2011.

TESTIMONIES

“The native potato value chain is perhaps Peru’s most emblematic case of a successful, inclusive (pro-poor) value chain developed for domestic markets and the transformation of the food system, driven by demographic trends” (World Bank, 2017)

PERU’S NATIVE POTATO REVOLUTION

3.

HIGH CHRONIC MALNUTRITION IN RURAL AREAS OF PERU

• Significant progress has been made in reducing chronic malnutrition in children but it remains a health problem with high prevalence in rural areas• Fe deficiency (43%) causes anemia

• Zn deficiency contributes to stunting.

• Because the potato is the backbone of the Andean food system,

➢ Potatoes with higher content of Iron and Zinc can be part of the solution to chronic malnutrition

POTATOFOOD SECURITY

NUTRITION

INCOME GENERATION

Color

Flavor

Shape

Gastronomy

Antioxidants

Micro (FE

and ZN and

macro

nutrients

Functional

components

BEFORE… …NOW

Availability

Production Access

Income

Diversified Diet

Use (Better quality food)

Agriculture

HEALTHIER CHILDREN

SIMPLIFIED FRAMEWORK FOR LINKING AGRICULTURE – INCOMES - NUTRITION

INNOVATION NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION

Nutrient

Contribution to children’s needs

In times of

abundance

In times of

shortage

Iron 24-37% 8-13%

Zinc 19-25% 6-9%

Nutrient

Contribution to mother’s needs

In times of

abundance

In times of

shortage

Iron 17-27% 12-17%

Zinc 43-57% 27-36%

Research on the potato´s contribution to nutrition with emphasis in Fe y Zn

Collaboration with National Nutrition Institute (IIN)

NUTRITIONAL OUTCOMES IN ANDEAN POTATO BASED PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Positive relationship between % of Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for both Fe and Zn by children and the production of native potato and small livestock.

Source: CIP & Instituto de Investigacion Nutricional (IIN), 2015

• Greater household income from the sale of improved potatoes, enabling diversification of the family diet

VARIABLES Fe (RDI -%) Zn (RDI -%)

Native Potatoes production for consumption

** **

Small livestock (consumption and sales)

** **

RESEARCH EMPHASIS ON POTATO BIOFORTIFICATION TO IMPROVE Fe AND Zn CONTENT • Selection of new varieties and characterization of native

potatoes with:

• Higher concentration of micronutrients (Iron and Zinc)

• Higher productivity & resistance to pests and diseases for more sustainable production

• High value market opportunity

4.

• Strengthen the capacity of producer organizations to participate in markets. Youth and entrepreneurship.

• Reduce production costs, increase productivity, and enhance adaptability in the face of Climate change

• Promote policies and services that respond to the needs of small-scale farmers (capacity building, access to information and technologies, business skills, credit, insurance)

Promotion of potato biodiversity in domestic and export markets for income generation.

More research on the potato’s nutritional contribution to relieving chronic malnutrition in rural areas.

• Ample research on value chains but more is needed on nutrition and biomedical aspects

• Promote the development and use of more nutritive varieties in an agri-food system framework for diet diversification and better nutrition status.

• Data management on potato’s contribution to nutrition and health to influence policies

Strengthen Public-Private partnering to promote innovation for inclusive value chain development and nutrition

• Develop Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mechanisms for promoting consumption and scaling through collaboration with processing companies, super markets, mining enterprises and other private-sector partners

• Linkages with public investment and international financial programs such as the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) should be expanded to contribute to scaling process

André Devaux and Miguel Ordinolaa.devaux@cgiar.org

cip-incopa@cgiar.org