Sustainability and Potato Consumption

Geir Wæhler Gustavsen

doi:10.1007/s11540-021-09493-1

Abstract

This paper analyses the frequency of the consumption of table potatoes in Norway. The analysis shows that the frequency of potato consumption is higher in older cohorts than in younger, and it declines over the life cycle. This indicates that the total consumption will continue to decrease as older potato eating cohorts are replaced with younger cohorts who eat potatoes less frequently. This is bad for food security, it is bad for nutritional health and it is bad for the environment. It is argued that nutritional and environmental organizations should work together to increase the status of the potato.

Highlights

IntroductionAccording to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO 2018), the agricultural output will increase by 40–50 percent dependent upon the degree of sustainable development
The world population is predicted to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050
For each individual, we drew the frequency of boiled potato consumption; we drew the frequency of baked potato consumption

Summary

Introduction

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO 2018), the agricultural output will increase by 40–50 percent dependent upon the degree of sustainable development. This increase in agricultural production will have tremendous consequences in terms of land degradation, natural resource use and greenhouse gas emission. The potato is exceptional in this sense in that it has a low CO2 footprint and requires less land than many other fruits, vegetables and cereals. It contains most of the nutrients people need. In 2008, FAO declared the potato as a future food crop and a major contributor towards food security, and that year was declared as the year of potato (FAO 2008)

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Conclusion