“Resurgence” and Re-colonization of the Potato. From the andean world to the global food Scenario, 16th-20th Centuries

Abstract

The article studies the process of “resurgence” of the potato (Solanum tuberosum), understood as its universalized consumption during the past century due to its reappearance on the global food scenario, which, in turn, led to a certain change of identity and redefinition. The article holds that the potato has been adapted, assimilated, and integrated into the current food sufficiency needs in various ways, for example, the fast food industry. Adopting a long-term historical view, the paper also examines the different meanings of the potato, on the basis of the opinions of chroniclers, travelers, and scholars, questioning their unanimous appreciations or prejudices regarding the potato. In recent years, the potato, together with wheat, corn, and rice, has come to occupy an important spot on the tables of both rich and poor. Although the article focuses on the Andean region, particularly Colombia, it takes the global food scenario into account.