A Short History of Potato Production Systems

Abstract

In the early 1500s when Spanish explorers stepped onto the continent of South America, they discovered a civilization consisting of 10 million people spread along 2000 miles of the Andes. They also discovered that this relatively advanced culture subsisted largely on a previously unknown crop that came to be known as the potato. Far beyond being just something to eat, explorers recorded that potatoes infused every aspect of Andean culture. This crop was incorporated into many local creation myths, served a central role in religious rites, became a common subject of artwork, and was central in daily and seasonal rituals. Over an undefined period of history, potato production in the Andes evolved in sophistication and productivity. Thousands of years before this crop became a staple in Europe, the Andean culture had developed a complex, efficient potato production system. All aspects of what we commonly assume are modern agricultural principles were addressed within this system: crop rotation, soil fertility, soil preparation, irrigation, cultivar improvement, seed management, pest control, judicious harvest protocols, long-term storage, production of processed products, and complex marketing schemes. Evidence suggests that efficacious potato production gave rise to the Incan Empire and vastly improved quality of life for its citizens. As modern producers consider options for improving potato production practices, comparison of ancient Andean potato production methodologies may be both enlightening and constructive.