2008 was the United Nations' International Year of the Potato. This highlighted the crop's global importance in terms of food supply and security and alleviating malnutrition, hunger and poverty. A major aim was the promotion of the development of sustainable potato-based systems for this highly resource-demanding crop. The focus is on developing countries where expansion of the potato sector is most rapid with production and consumption increasing both as a subsistence crop and a cash crop for fresh and processing markets, doubling from 85 million tonnes in 1991 to 165 million tonnes in 2007. This technical guide supports this aim. NeBambi Lutaladio, Plant and Protection Division (AGP), FAO, Rome, Italy, was mainly responsible for its production from conception to completion, with support from colleagues in AGP and other partner institutions, in particular from the International Potato Centre (CIP), Wageningen University and Research Centre and McCain Foods Limited of Canada. Technical, socio-economic policy and institutional factors constraining production and productivity in sub-tropical and tropical countries are reviewed concisely in five sections: (1) Factors constraining the potato subsector (crop biology; production of healthy seed tubers; crop protection; socio-economics; policy). (2) Good agricultural practices (GAPs) and potato production (with examples). (3) Key indicators of sustainability (biodiversity and breeding, seed production, crop management in the field and store, marketing, health, safety and welfare of producers and consumers). For each of them, the relevant GAPs and scope for further improvement are identified. (4) Implications for policy and research (highlighting the evolution of potatoes from a primarily production-orientated crop to a multi-faceted one and the associated challenges for sustainability). (5) Potato fact sheets (biodiversity, disease-free seed, pest and disease management, soil conservation, water management and food price inflation).

With 91 pages and most of the text on odd-numbered pages and much in bullet-point style, it can be read comfortably at one go and specific sections may be accessed in any order as required. Even-numbered pages include ‘snapshots’ of examples of best practices, striking colour pictures of potato production and a few blank pages for notes. This is an attractive composition. While the fact sheets repeat some information and pictures from previous sections (and also from the FAO publication ‘New Light on a Hidden Treasure: an End of Year Review’), this is understandable as they are essentially ‘stand-alone’ documents and wide dissemination is desirable. Relatively few data are included in the guide and the bibliography is short. However, those keen to complement the guide are recommended to read the FAO publication mentioned above, ‘New Light on a Hidden Treasure: an End of Year Review’ outlining achievements of the International Year of the Potato. While the main focus of the technical guide is sustainable potato production in sub-tropical/tropical countries, there is much interest for and relevance of temperate regions. The target audience is mainly decision-makers at the institutional level, but the guide is expressed and presented in such a way that is comprehensible for a wide readership and is an excellent reference. Hopefully it will contribute to the realization of potatoes' potential as a food for the future and an important part of the solution to help to alleviate hunger and poverty which was a major aim of the International Year of the Potato.