This is the title of a touring exhibition organised by GTZ that aims to draw public attention in Germany to the humble potato and its importance for the developing countries. The tuber is the focus of world attention to the International Year of the Potato in 2008, declared by the United Nations.

The potato is one of the world’s most important staple foods and has many different characteristics – some well-known, others less so. Worldwide, it displays enormous genetic diversity. We are all responsible for ensuring that this diversity is maintained, because it belongs to a reservoir of genetic material that will benefit future generations. German development cooperation is helping to preserve this reservoir.

The “Potato World. Career of a Tuber Plant” exhibition focuses on four major themes: “Production and Consumption”, “Botany and Culture”, “Diversity, Research and Breeding” and “Food Security and Development Cooperation”. These subject areas are grouped into 36 individual topics. For instance, on his circuit the visitor learns some of the potato traditions of the Andes, or that the farmers of Pilgramsreuth were the first to grow potatoes in Germany. Potato breeding and potato diseases are described in detail, while striking pictures of food products catch the eye. The history of “Linda”, currently the best-known of Germany’s potato varieties, is also included.

The exhibition was officially opened on 18 January 2008 at the International Green Week in Berlin. It then began its tour of Germany. A list of all the exhibition locations, as well as the corresponding posters and publications, can be downloaded below. We will gladly send you all the documents on DVD or CD upon request.

• Publications
  The whole exhibition as publication and flyer.
  de-beaf-bmz-kartoffel-broschuere.pdf, 4,91 MB (german)
  de-beaf-bmz-kartoffel-faltblatt.pdf, 1,14 MB (german)
  de-beaf-bmz-postkarten.pdf, 1,67 MB (german)
  en-beaf-plakat-kartoffel-vielfalt.pdf, 0,32 MB (german)
• Posters
  en-beaf-plakat-kartoffel-allgemein-2008.pdf, 0,94 MB (german)
  en-beaf-plakat-kartoffel-ernaehrung-2008.pdf, 0,37 MB (german)
  en-beaf-plakat-kartoffel-tradition-2008.pdf, 0,40 MB (german)

• Video on the Potato World exhibition
  Dr. Christoph Kohlmeyer, Head of Division for Rural Development and Global Food Security at the German Development Ministry and Dr. Wolfgang Kasten, Project Manager of the GTZ Advisory Service on Agricultural Research for Development (BEAF) outline the merits of the potato (2'38'').
  mms://stream.gtz.de/kartoffelwelt
• DVD "The Green Gold of the Incas" (Das grüne Gold der Inkas)
  The movie shows how the potato can contribute to food security in the North and the South. The DVD can be ordered at the BMZ free of charge. It is only available in German. 
  www.bmz.de