Potatoes Have a Lower Environmental Impact than Rice or Pasta, Research Says
The potato leaves behind a very low environmental impact compared to pasta or rice, research by the Nutrition Center cited by DeRestaurantKrant has revealed.
On the subject of water, consumption the potato scores the best compared to pasta and rice. Rice needs 1,111 liters of water to produce 1kg, while the potato requires only 200 litters for the same amount, according to UNESCO calculations.
The fact that potatoes don’t consume a lot of water can be crucial. Two years ago, the environmental project of the united nations (UNEP) calculated that the demand for clean drinkable water will rise by 40% compared to the offer in 2030. Given these statistics, China has revealed its intentions to invest in this sense and announced ,not so long ago, plans to raise potato production from 100m tons to 150m tons. Traditionally China is known for its rice and wheat production. But with this change, the country aims to lower the environmental impact caused by the production of rice and wheat.
On top of not consuming a lot of water, potatoes can grow almost everywhere in the world. This means that local farmers can supply the local markets. From South-Africa to Poland and Canada to China, there will be less need for trucks, airplanes, and boats to transport the potatoes all over the world. In the Netherlands, there is a potato production of around 8m tons per year. Of those 8m tons, 1m tons is exported and 2.5m tons is used for chips and fries. The remaining 4.5m tons is used for national consumption.
By comparison, other carbs-rich products like rice and quinoa are being produced on a low scale in the Netherlands, and the biggest part of is still being imported from other continents by boat or by plane. Whereas durum wheat, which is the base product of pasta, mostly grows in southern Europe.
Additionally, it should also be noted that in the Netherlands, one hectare of farming ground produces 45 tons of potatoes. Rice delivers 6,5 tons per hectare and durum wheat 4 tons per hectare. The amount of production per hectare of farming ground is an important element of the environmental impact because a key part of the impact of many foods is caused by the use of fertilizers.