London, April 16 : They might be derided for contributing to expanding waistlines but potatoes may be the solution for alleviating the global food crisis.

Researchers at the International Potato Centre, in Lima, the Peruvian capital, said that potatoes could solve the growing problem of food supply due to rising prices and the production of crops for biofuel rather than food.

"The shocks to the food supply are very real and that means we could potentially be moving into a reality where there is not enough food to feed the world," Telegraph quoted Pamela Anderson, the centre's director, as saying.

She said that for all those who suffering from food shortage, the potato was 'a good option for both food security and also income generation'.

Potatoes can be cultivated at almost any elevation or climate and require little water, maturing in as little as 50 days and can yield between two and four times more food per hectare than wheat or rice.

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation recently launched the International Year of the Potato at a conference in Peru, hailing it a 'hidden treasure.'

ANI