Potato Goldmine, T’ikapapa project

October 13th, 2007

Now in it’s third year, World Challenge 2007, in association with Shell, is a global competition that seeks out projects and businesses that not only make a profit, but also put something back into the community. Brought to you by BBC World and Newsweek, it is all about rewarding individuals or groups that truly make a difference through enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level. The winner will receive a US$20,000 award from Shell to benefit their project, while two runners-up will each receive $10,000.

The T’ikapapa Project

The farmers of Peru’s high Andes are among the poorest in the country, with average incomes of under US $1 per day. Yet these farmers are sitting on something of a goldmine, for the region is home to some 3000 varieties of potato. These native strains bear little resemblance to the familiar staple of Western diets – many are brightly coloured (inside and out) and strangely shaped, as well as vitamin-packed and organically grown. T’ikapapa was set up to bridge the gap between the Andean farmers and the potato market, allowing them to see the benefit of their premium goods. The project’s ‘participatory market chain approach’ is now being applied to potato chips and other value-added products.

If you’d like to vote for this project, visit World Challenge ’07. Select the last option on the left.