Tag: Agricultural history

The potato is the world's third most important food crop, consumed by over a billion people daily and playing a pivotal role in human history and nutrition. But why are potatoes important to humans beyond just being a dietary staple? This article delves into the nutritional, historical, and environmental reasons behind the potato's enduring global significance.

In the 1960s, a new strain of rice was developed that would dramatically alter the course of food production and help feed millions, becoming famously known as "miracle rice". This was the high-yielding IR8, created by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines.

For nearly a century, most Americans couldn't buy a fresh blackcurrant from a store or farmer. This widespread and long-lasting prohibition answers the question of **what fruit was banned in most of the United States**, revealing a surprising story rooted in agricultural preservation rather than public health.