b'WORLD POTATO CONGRESSDeclaration of Dublin: Fostering Potato Partnerships for Food SecurityMOST ARE FAMILIAR with the expression It takes a village to raise a child. When it comes to the potato, its possible for all of us working in this village to make global change as we look to address poverty and food security. The knowledge we have gained within our individual careers has been developed through sharing of information, whether it be passed from generations, through educational opportunities, or through networking experiences. ELLENIn May, the World Potato Congress (WPC) Inc., KOUWENBERG,through its mission of creating value chain networking executive director of the Worldwithin the global potato community, officially adopted Potato Congress the Declaration of Dublin: Fostering Potato Partnerships for Food Security. What is this and where does the idea come from?Reaching back to discussions with industry playersPotato farmers from Amka Vicoba group from Itunduma in the Njombe district in Tanzania, packing the potatoes into over the past few Congresses, momentum has builtto ready them for transportation to the market. around the conversation on how WPC might assist inPHOTO: FARAJA MAGUHU, NADO MARKETING OFFICERpoverty alleviation and help countries struggling with the challenges of food security through potato production.other entities who find value in this commitment of Theres a disparity between the high yields and low yieldspotatoes changing the food insecurity paradigm.within some regions of the world. Theres also a dichotomyWPC and Congress host countries have been successful between research activities in developed versus developingover the years to leverage funding to ensure delegates countries that highlight the need for more exchange,could be sponsored to attend. At the 2022 Congress in knowledge sharing, and collaboration. For producersDublin, WPC hosts and Irish Aid, Ireland, sponsored to implement key research and technology, they requireover 40 delegates from across the globe.support. Better access to research and technology needs toTwo such delegates were Ernest Ngumbi and Faraja be provided by the potato research community throughMaguhu from the Njombe Agricultural Development improved services at national and international levels.Organization (NADO) in Tanzania. NADO works with How can we leverage the networking capabilities ofover 16,000 small holder farmers engaged in various WPC and its community to share global knowledge andforms of crop production, over half of whom are women.improve the capacity within potato programs? The networking and connections made at the Congress The Declaration of Dublin is a call to action to fosterin Dublin have provided Ngumbi and Maguhu tools relationships between private and public potato partnersneeded in their commitment to reduce relative and with the goal of addressing current and future challengesabsolute poverty. Workshops and connections made in global food security through the exploration andwith global organizations in Dublin have led to producer development of innovative action plans and investmenttraining sessions on good agricultural practices and opportunities. The adoption of this Declaration alignsassisted in sourcing of quality certified seeds. This, along with the recently adopted United Nations Sustainablewith field inspections, has already led to dramatically Development Goals.improved up to 25 tons per hectare.Engaging and working in concert with existingDiffused light storages for seed and ambient store in-country stakeholders will initiate and strengthen thefor ware potatoes is expected to see improved storage potato value chain projects at local, national and regionalcapabilities of up to four months and training is in levels. Partners in this engagement model might includeprogress around potato value additions such as making local communities and authorities, non-governmentalcrisps and fries.organizations, research and development institutes,These success stories are important. The Declaration of sustaining partners of the WPC, potato media, financialDublin can be adopted by any organization. Were all part institutions, foundations, farmers communities, andof the village. 46SPUDSMART.COMSummer 2023'