Peruvian potato project wins global contest


LIMA - The Peruvian potato project T’ikapapa has been chosen as the winner of The World Challenge 2007, a global competition promoted by the BBC and Newsweek magazine, in association with Shell.

See Award Ceremony Video (WMV 50 MB)

See video Potato Goldmine (WMV 34 MB)

T’ikapapa, a marketing social concept that enables resource-poor farmers from the Andean highlands to sell their distinctly labeled native potato crop in Lima’s supermarkets, was chosen from 940 proposals from all over the world.

The World Challenge contest, now in its third year, seeks out development projects and businesses that not only make a profit but also put something back into the community. Making a difference through enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level is also a key requirement.

T’ikapapa, an initiative of the International Potato Center’s (CIP) Papa Andina Partnership Program and the Peruvian INCOPA platform, does just that. Since its implementation in 2004, the project has improved the income and livelihood of 500 farming families in Peru’s high Andes. The underlying goal is to link small-scale, resource-poor farmers to expanding urban markets, utilizing potato biodiversity to create new market opportunities.

The project brings together farmers’ organizations from six different departments (Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cajamarca, Huánuco, Huancavelica and Junín) in the highland of Peru, Capac-Peru (a potato market chain association), A&L Biodiversidad Alto Andina (a private potato processing company), Wong (Peru’s largest supermarket chain), and CIP’s INCOPA (Innovation and Competitiveness of Peru’s Potato Sector) project. This project is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Today, two major supermarket chains in Lima sell these specially selected and packed fresh native Peruvian potatoes that are supplied by participating farmer organizations under the T’ikapapa trademark. Formal agreements and contracts have been signed between the processing company and the organized farmer communities to ensure stable prices and a supply of quality raw material.

T’ikapapa was selected earlier this year as one of 12 finalists among the 940 proposals submitted for the 2007 World Challenge award. The winning project, selected by popular vote through The World Challenge website, was announced at an awards event at The Hague, the Netherlands on 4 December 2007.

This is not T’ikapapa’s first accolade. In Peru, T’ikapapa was awarded the Enterprise Creativity Award in 2005. The initiative then went on to gain international recognition after receiving one of the United Nations’ 2007 SEED Awards - Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development.

As the winner of The World Challenge 2007 competition, T’ikapapa will receive a US$ 20,000 award, which will be used to improve and expand the on-going project. In addition to further supporting the efforts of the highland communities in Peru, this prize is a wonderful tribute to the original breeders and custodians of potatoes as the celebration of the International Year of the Potato kicks off in 2008.

For further information, please contact:
  Miguel Ordinola
  General Coordinator of INCOPA Project
  Phone. 3496017, ext. 3014
  Cip-incopa@cgiar.org
 
  Click here for additional info
 
  See Award Ceremony Video (WMV 50 MB)
 
  See video Potato Goldmine (WMV 34 MB)