Equally important, the European and North American adoption of the potato set the template for modern agriculture—the so-called agro-industrial complex. Not only did the Columbian Exchange carry the potato across the Atlantic, it also brought the world's first intensive fertilizer: Peruvian guano.
How did potatoes impact the new world?
They were part of the Columbian Exchange as well as being disseminated by many other large trade routes. Potatoes became widespread and then turned into a necessity for the people in Europe to survive. Potatoes created a more nutritional diet as well as creating jobs and population booms everywhere the plant was grown.
Why were potatoes One of the most important crops brought to the Old World?
One of the most important crops brought to the Old World was the potato. Nunn and Qian (2010) claim it is the crop with the largest impact on the Old World. It is a tubular with enough vitamins to prevent scurvy and enough starch and water to eat as one's only food (Mann, 2011).
How did the potato save the world?
The introduction of the potato to Europe in the 16th century changed agriculture, allowing farmers to grow more crops on less land. In turn, this allowed communities to feed themselves on smaller amounts of land. As a result the price of land dropped.
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