Seven Guides Launched to Document and Protect Traditional Potato Farming in Tenerife
Tenerife’s Department of Primary Sector, in collaboration with the Rural Action Group and the General Foundation of the University of La Laguna, has completed a project aimed at identifying and mapping traditional potato farming systems on the island.
The initiative, part of a community effort for the Local Development Strategy 2023-2027, has resulted in the publication of seven specialised guides that highlight the agronomic and cultural heritage of potatoes, an iconic crop in Tenerife.
Valentín González, the councilor for the Primary Sector, stated, “This initiative aids in fostering generational change and protecting traditional agricultural landscapes.” He emphasised the importance of using educational tools to pass knowledge to younger generations, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable primary sector.
Led by Dr Domingo Ríos Mesa from the university, the research documented both traditional and modern cultivation techniques, local varieties (including notable ‘ancient potatoes’), environmental conditions, and common crop rotations in different areas.
The guides, which are available in both print and digital formats, include maps, photographs, and infographics, focusing on key production sites across the island such as Icod el Alto, San Juan de la Rambla, La Guancha, Valle de La Orotava, and more.
This project was funded through the Strategic Intervention 7119 of the PAC (PEPAC 2023/2027), with contributions from the Canarian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
