The centre of origin of potato cultivation is in the Andes .

The first potatoes arrived to Spain in 1539 thanks to Francisco Pizarro who sent them from Perú. Then, they were spread to Italy , France and later on to the rest of Europe .

In France Antoine Parmentier convinced the King Louis XVI of growing this tuber and since then the potato is an important food for a high number of countries, especially in the Center of Europe.

In the middles of the 20th century an unknown pathogen, mildew, caused important losses in potato crops in Ireland . The famine was so devastating that a million and a half persons died and another million of Irish people had to emigrate from their country.