International Potato Day or International Day of Potato is a United Nations-recognized observance celebrated annually on May 30. It was officially established by the UN General Assembly in December 2023, with the first global celebration held in 2024. The day aims to highlight the importance of the potato as a food crop in ensuring global food security, nutrition, poverty reduction, and sustainable agriculture.

The crop supports important SDG goals like ending hunger, developing sustainable agriculture, and expanding economic opportunities through its extensive production and consumption. Along their value chains, potatoes offer significant job prospects and sustainable economic growth in addition to being a staple food for many people.

Theme of International Potato Day 2025

The Second observance of International Day of Potato will be celebrated with the theme of Shaping history feeding the future.

In today’s global agrifood systems, the theme recognizes the potato’s changing position and its profound historical and cultural significance.

This second observance, which takes place during FAO’s 80th anniversary year, emphasizes the importance of potatoes for nutrition, food security, and livelihoods, particularly for small-scale producers. Additionally, it promotes contemplation on the crop’s production limitations, the necessity of preserving its diversity, and the intended steps to fortify its value chain in order to achieve a more sustainable future.

Why International Day of Potato Matters?

In commemoration of the 2008 International Year of the Potato, this Day provides a chance to continue the momentum. The significance of the crop in fighting poverty and hunger as well as environmental dangers to agrifood systems will be highlighted during the celebration. As we celebrate the cultural and gastronomic aspects of this crop, we will also acknowledge the contributions of small-scale family farmers, many of whom are women, in preserving its diverse range of varieties.

Potatoes, scientifically known as Solanum tuberosum (L.), are featured on May 30th. This crop is regularly eaten by billions of people. From enormous commercial, mechanized farms on several continents to smallholders in the Andes who produce a wide variety of heirloom potatoes by hand, potatoes are an important crop across a variety of farming systems worldwide. Whether they reside in the city or the country, people rely on potatoes for their food, nutrition, livelihood, and employment needs.