Potato Edict

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The term Potato Edict, also known as Potato Order (German: Kartoffelbefehl), describes a series of directives and regulations issued by King Frederick the Great of Prussia through which he sought to promote the cultivation of potatoes throughout rural Prussia. There are 15 such decrees on record, with the most prominent being issued on March 24, 1756, to remedy the effects of the Pomeranian famine. From a historical perspective, these edicts are now regarded as having had a particularly formative influence on both German cuisine and Frederick the Great's personal image, although myths and misconceptions have since obscured their true effectiveness. Frederick the Great's potato decrees may be viewed as reflecting a wider eighteenth-century effort to strengthen the state via population economics, of which food security constitutes a vital part. General concerns of the enlightened political elite regarding population management for military, agricultural improvement for economic, and public welfare for spiritual reasons gained particular urgency in the Kingdom of Prussia following a series of famines in the early 18th century. Potatoes as a potential source of nutrition were specifically valued because they promised a cheap and relatively reliable food source for the laboring population. Previously, the Prussian army depended heavily on bread, which required enormous quantities of flour during campaigns. During the Seven Years’ War, French disruption of grain imports increased the need to reduce dependence on wheat and rye. The potato thus offered a practical supplement because it produced far more food per acre than grain and could help feed the civilian population while preserving more cereals for military bread supplies. However, accounts describing a supposedly reluctant peasantry needing enlightened rulers and agronomists to accept the benefits of potato cultivation (see paternalistic conservatism) have since grown to be viewed as unviable.