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World conference discusses potato market potential

Xinhua, July 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

The 9th World Potato Congress (WPC) was held in Beijing Tuesday to explore potato market potential and promote industrial cooperation.

"In China, the potato industry is no longer an industry in less-developed and poor regions. It's an essential drive for modern agriculture and the highlight of people's dining table," Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu said at the opening ceremony.

The potato is believed to originate from South America and has been grown in China for about 400 years.

"With the Chinese people's dream for a better life, a cleaner environment, more nutritious food and better health, the market demand for potatoes will continue to grow at a rapid pace," said Barbara Wells, director general of the International Potato Center.

China is boosting potato acreage to make it one of the country's staple foods. The current planting area of potatoes is more than 5.5 million hectares.

Han said China is willing to cooperate with the world and play its role in promoting the global potato industry.

The three-day event in Beijing's Yanqing County has attracted nearly 1,000 representatives from over 30 countries and regions.

The triennial event was first held in Canada in 1993. Endi