International Year of the Potato Peru. Several functions and events were held throughout the world, including those by the United Nations Association in Canada, honouring Wallace McCain, co-founder of McCain Foods Limited. International Year of the Potato The year 2008 was declared the International Year of the Potato by the United Nations, noting that the potato is a staple food in the diet of the world’s population, and affirming the need to focus world attention on the role that the potato can play in providing food security and eradicating poverty. Food and Agriculture Organization was invited to facilitate its implementation. The corresponding resolution adopted on
Food Photographer of the Year from the photographic and food industries, including Blur bassist Alex James, television presenter and Observer food critic Jay Rayner, chef James Martin as well as restaurateurs Tom Aikens, Antonio Carluccio, Bill Granger and Prue Leith. Categories include: "Food and Its Place", for images celebrating food's geographical essence; "Food In the Street"; "Food for Celebration" and commemorative categories such as the "Philip Harben Award for Food in Action", in memory of Philip Harben, the UK's first TV chef. The 2013 competition received over 5500 entries; the website attracted visits from 140 countries. The Award was created by The Food Awards Company,