Potatoes are one of the most popular root crops worldwide.
Whether as fries, an ingredient in various dishes, or simple mashed potatoes, they never fail to please the palate.
Historically, potatoes were among the first foods consumed by ancient civilizations like the Incas in Peru, who cultivated around 4,000 varieties of potatoes in the mountainous terrains.
But here’s something intriguing, potatoes can also be grown in space!
Yes, you heard that right.
Potatoes became the first vegetable to be cultivated beyond Earth.
This milestone was achieved during an experiment in October 1995 by American Ag-Tec International and NASA’s Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics.
They used a technology called Quantum Tubers, a system that combines Chinese growing techniques with NASA-engineered growth chambers designed for cultivating plants in space.
These chambers accelerate plant growth while preventing pathogens, allowing the production of mini-tubers, which serve as seed stock for potatoes.
Potatoes were originally discovered in South America, particularly in the Andes Mountains of Peru and Bolivia.
In the Philippines, they were introduced by the Spaniards during their colonization.
Thanks to their adaptability, potatoes thrived in the cool climate of the Cordillera mountains.
Today, the Cordillera region, especially Benguet, is the top producer of potatoes in the country, earning it the title “Salad Bowl of the Philippines.”
Potatoes are an essential crop due to their richness in carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, making them a vital food source globally.
**VALERIE ANN DISMAYA
