A bank that keeps unsuspected treasures: The conservation of biodiversity is one of CIP’s main objectives. In the geneanks more than 5000 samples of potato, more than 6500 samples of sweetpotato and around 1300 samples of nine species of Andean roots and tubers are conserved in trust for humankind. Thus, the genetic diversity of these crops is guaranteed. These genebanks are an essential source of material to improve these crops and to adapt them to conditions around the world but especially for the needs of the developing world.

A flavor and color festival: Approximately 3800 varieties of native potatoes grow in Peru. Most of them are unknown outside the remote rural communities that make them their daily support. Their great diversity of colors as well as their exotic forms meanthat when they are sliced and fried as potato chips they take on a truly extraordinary appearance, with beautiful rings and very singular designs combined with different color intensities: yellow red, blue, violet and purple. The flavor is also unique. CIP has been linking to the different sectors involved in their production, processing and marketing to improve their production so that multinational hotels and restaurants become interested in using them, and as a product for gourmets. This will contribute to preserving the biodiversity of the native potatoes and generating incomes for the poor farmers that produce them.