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Hot Potatoes

Subjects: Agriculture, Biographies, Biotechnology, Central American Studies, Environment, Genetics, History, Mexican Studies, Pesticides, Science

Grade Level: JrH-Adult
Producer: Bullfrog Films
Closed Captioned: Yes

Running Time: 57 mins
Country of Origin: United States
Study Guide: No

Copyright Date: 2001
Available in French: No

Hot Potatoes reveals the little-known story of the Potato Famine of the 1840s. The very science of Plant Pathology was born when researchers tried to understand and conquer the blight that had wiped out potato crops throughout Europe. Hot Potatoes tells the story of plant geneticist, Dr. John Niederhauser, who was the first to discover that the fungus that destroyed crops in Ireland a century before had likely come from the remote Toluca Valley in Mexico. Starting in the 50s he began a quest to breed blight-resistant potatoes. As the potato became more and more a staple in developing countries, Dr. Neiderhauser became concerned that these countries would not be able to afford expensive chemicals to keep the potato crops healthy and that the potato blight could become chemical resistant.

Awards: The Silver Chris Award, Columbus International Film & Video Festival;Honourable Mention, National Press Club Journalism Awards

Links: http://www.kcts.org/productions/hotpotatoes

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