International Year of the Potato 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 25 November 2005 by the Food and Agriculture Organization, which was to facilitate the implementation of the year, affirmed "the need to revive public awareness of the
United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture Representatives; George McGovern was a former United States Senator and the 1972 Democratic Party presidential nominee; and Tony P. Hall was a long-time sitting member of the House who resigned his seat in order to take on the role. Several of the nominees, especially including McGovern and Hall, had long prior involvements with food, agriculture, and hunger issues. On the other hand, from 1988 through 1997 the position was held by career Foreign Service Officers. As of 2017–18 the position has been vacant, one of many unfilled by the new administration. During such times the acting personage is the "Chargé