Why China Wants People To Eat More Potatoes

China plants more potatoes than any other country.

But it needs to get its people to eat them.

China’s Potato Demand and Supply

Our story starts in 2015. With rice, wheat, and maize its three national staples, China hoped to make the potato #4.  However, because people perceived the potato as a vegetable, their consumption was below the global average.

Demand

On the demand side, potatoes buoy the food security that concerns China. Based on an elevated UN food price index (composed of meat, cereals, dairy, vegetable oils, sugar) that peaked in 2022, food security is down:

In China, except for associating French fries with the West, potatoes are known as peasant food. Very different, rice is a symbol of civilization, and noodles relate to longevity.

To encourage potato consumption, China appears to be depending on the law of demand. Using price incentives, it reputedly is making potato purchases more attractive. In addition, a University of Westminster researcher said in 2021 that the government tried cookbooks, popular science books, trade fairs, and even a documentary film. In addition, USA Today reported that they’ve been adding potato powder to bread.

Achieving limited success, instead, primary demand for China’s potato crop comes from livestock and exports.

Supply

In 2016, USA Today told us that China would double the land growing potatoes. The goal makes sense because potatoes are a less thirsty crop than other grains. Per acre, boosting food security, they produce more calories and vitamins than China’s other staples. And, earth friendly, planting a higher yield potato crop can reduce China’s emissions.

You can see that China is a big potato producer:

Our Bottom Line: Planetary Health Diet

Perhaps we should all be eating more potatoes.

Including the potato in its whole grain slice, the following ideal diet “pie” combines maximum nutrition and minimal emissions. It is good for people and the planet:

My sources and more: For an introductory summary, the Conversation and USA Today are a good start. Next, we can look at the FAO Food Price Index and the Lancet diet for more detail. Then, these papers, here and here, provide an academic lens. And finally, this blog looks at the results of China’s potato initiative.