Resumen

KLEIN, Karina; TORNEO ALBINO, Juan Carlos  y  SCHLUETER, Sabine. Insights into the potato valué chain of Bolivia -Market potentials for integrating native varieties in the context of Food Security. CienciAgro [online]. 2017, vol.7, n.1, pp. 69-76. ISSN 2072-1404.

Abstract Gobalization, changing demand patterns and competition impose high pressure upon the potato system and especially poor, rural farmers ofthe Altiplano. Anongoing trendofthe displacement oftraditionalfoodproducts and the import of other staple foods is conse- quently decreasing the diversity of producednative potatoes. Though, genetic resources are the most valuable as s ets that Andean potato farmers have in terms of food s ecurity, nutrition and household income. Valué chains which link rural and urban markets, as wellas the agro-industry, represent promisingopportunities for increasingruralincomes throughadding valué to foodproducts. This researchabout the potato valué chain in La Pazaims to illuminate the complexity andpersuasibüty ofthe staple food systemand shows its bottlenecks as startingpoints forimprovement. The results indicate thatthe linkages of urban and rural markets of La Paz are very weakdue to poorinfrastructure andhigh transaction costs, hinderingsmallfarmers to enterbigger andmore profitable markets. Consumere' preferences fosterthe commercialization of improved potato varieties mainly usedforthe fast food and snack industry, promotingat the same time the loss ofbiologicaldiversity. However, niche markets for native potatoes are identiñed in the gourmet food sector and within nutrition- al markets including hospitals and industries producing food supplements andbaby food which y et need to be further analy zed.

Palabras llave : Potato valué chain; agrobiodiversity; native varieties; food security; nutrition; product innovation.