In Nariño, stakeholders across the potato value chain come together to commemorate International Potato Day

• Nariño is part of the Andes, a region where potatoes thrive, nourish communities, and support the livelihoods of thousands of families.
• As part of the International Potato Day celebration, various stakeholders gathered at the Obonuco Research Center to share knowledge, innovation, experiences, and culture.

Pasto, Nariño. June 11, 2026. International Potato Day is celebrated worldwide every May 30. The United Nations proclaimed this date to recognize the global importance of potatoes as a fundamental pillar of food security and a key contributor to the livelihoods of millions of producers. In Nariño, AGROSAVIA’s Obonuco Research Center joined this commemoration through an agenda designed to connect scientific knowledge, innovation, producers’ experiences, and cultural heritage. This celebration was also held by AGROSAVIA at the La Selva Research Center in Antioquia and at the Tibaitatá Research Center in Cundinamarca. During the event held on June 5, 2026, Nariño contributed to the academic agenda, delivered both in person and virtually, through the presentation of key scientific advances in the understanding and management of the Purple Top–Zebra Chip complex and the potato psyllid. This challenge has driven the development of technological alternatives for the production of high-quality seed.

The event brought together 189 participants, including potato producers from the municipalities of Cumbal, Ipiales, Pupiales, and Pasto, as well as representatives from institutions such as ICA, UDENAR, the Mayor’s Office of Pasto, and the Government of Nariño, among others. Students from the University of Cotopaxi also attended, once again demonstrating how the fraternal binational relationship promotes knowledge development across the region. The impact of strategic alliances among producer associations, academia, and community organizations was reflected in the showcase of rural potato-processing enterprises.

Indigenous women potato producers from Cumbal attended the event to highlight the rich diversity of native potatoes, an ancestral legacy rooted in biodiversity and traditional knowledge. Today, with the support of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, AGROSAVIA, and CIP, these efforts continue to protect and promote this heritage throughout the country.

Recognizing the various phytosanitary challenges affecting potato production systems, ICA, the AGROSAVIA–VECOL–UDCA collaboration, and the AGROSAVIA–Fontagro initiative contributed demonstration spaces that showcase recent advances and key management recommendations for producers. Likewise, AGROSAVIA offered field demonstrations and exhibition stands showcasing advances in understanding and managing the Purple Top complex, along with a platform for disseminating technological solutions tailored to potato production. A guided visit to protected-environment facilities for high-quality potato seed production highlighted innovative approaches to prevent the loss of genetic resources while ensuring the availability of high-quality seed for commercial cultivation.

Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) reiterated their recognition of the efforts made by potato growers across the country to bring this essential food to consumers’ tables. Strengthening the potato value chain through collaborative work among its various stakeholders will be crucial to addressing the most significant challenges facing this production system.

Thanks to the interinstitutional support provided by MADR, Fontagro, Fedepapa, the Rural Development Agency (ADR), Corpoagrocentro, and AGROSAVIA, it was possible to hold a day filled with knowledge sharing, exchange of experiences, and cultural activities centered on potato cultivation.