In 2021, Ecuador's potato production reached 250,000 tons, covering 19,088 hectares and yielding an average of 13.0 t/ha. The potato crop, integral to the Ecuadorian highlands, provides food and income for family producers, with about 88,130 producers involved, and an estimated 250,000 people linked to the crop directly and indirectly. This crop, primarily grown by small-scale farmers, provides around 3.5 million wages/year.
The revalorization of native Andean potatoes in Ecuador exemplifies successful public-private collaboration. In 2010, INIAP and the International Potato Center (CIP) initiated efforts to promote these potatoes' use and consumption. The CIP coordinated a partnership between INALPROCES, INIAP, and farmer organization AGROPAPA to develop market opportunities for native potato varieties.
Together, they identified native potatoes suitable for processing. Two varieties, INIAP-Puca Shungo (Red Heart) and INIAP-Yana Shungo (Black Heart), were selected for producing naturally colored potato chips. This innovation led to technological advancements, including high-quality seed production and farmer training. By late 2011, Kiwa’s Native Andean potatoes were recognized as a Top Innovation at the Anuga show in Germany, leading to increased sales and market expansion.
Inalproces has since focused on the export market, which accounts for 80% of Kiwa native potato chips sales, primarily to the USA, Paraguay, and Saudi Arabia. In 2020, the supply of native potatoes to Inalproces peaked at around 18 tons per month. Since 2023, these chips have been included in the SuperFoods Cluster, supported by the Ecuador Ministry of Production, enhancing product export.
Source: potatocongress.org