March 22 is World Water Day: Eat potatoes!

March 22 is 'world water day’ and a diversity of organisations are making use of this day to check the water use in the production of a wide variety of food stuffs.

The Belgian website www.watervoetafdruk.be has provided information on certain food stuffs and their relation to water.

Potatoes score very well in this exercise, certainly compared to other staple food like rice and cereals.

Potatoes, cereals and rice are worldwide considered as the main staple food, which is logical, taken into consideration the fact that these food stuffs can be considered as the daily fuel for our body.

In this group potatoes have the lowest water footprint.

They contain a lot of starch (20 %) and quite some high quality proteins.

On top potatoes contain nearly as much vitamin C as a similar amount of most fruits. A portion of 200 g potatoes meets 40% of our daily need of vitamin C. This portion meets also 10 to 15% of the daily need of magnesium and iron and 50% for potassium.

Conclusion: an extra potato is good for your water footprint and for your health!

The Belgium potato production is characterised by a very limited irrigation.

The Belgian moderated sea climate and the excellent soil which is fixing the water and making it available for the crop include an added value for the Belgian potato crop on this issue.

Belgapom, the Belgian potato trade and processors, adds also the huge investment over the latest decade to reduce the water use during the preparation and processing of potatoes.

Water is being used for washing, peeling and transporting potatoes. Thanks to investments in the most modern water purification systems (as well primary, secondary as tertiary) a lot of water can be re-used in this process (also for cleaning purposes), whereas the finally passed water complies with the most strict European norms.

Currently more research is done within the by the Belgian food safety agency validated guidelines for the trade in and processing of potatoes, fruit &vegetables to increase the use of recycled water in the process, respecting the most strict standards on hygiene and food safety.

The consumer of washed or processed potatoes and potato products can be assured of the excellent water footprint of these products.

Information on global use of water for potatoes in comparison to other staple crops (International Year of the potato)