World Potato Congress 2026 Kenya: Exclusive Webinar to Preview Congress Program, Field Days and Tours

The countdown to the 13th World Potato Congress (WPC) is underway, and with the July 1 early-bird registration deadline approaching, the World Potato Congress Inc. has announced a special webinar offering delegates an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated global gathering scheduled for October 26–30, 2026, in Naivasha, Kenya.

The webinar will take place on June 18, 2026, and will provide participants with an inside look at the planning, speakers, field demonstrations, and international initiatives that will define this year's Congress. More than 1,000 delegates from across the global potato industry are expected to attend the biennial event, which brings together researchers, growers, processors, policymakers, and agribusiness leaders from around the world.

Organizers will unveil the Congress's strategic roadmap, featuring a world-class speaker lineup, commercial field days, and post-Congress technical tours showcasing Kenya's rapidly advancing potato sector. Delegates will also have the opportunity to explore Kenya's renowned national parks while learning about innovative potato production and value-chain developments. 

A key highlight of the 2026 Congress will be the launch of the International Potato Working Groups, designed to strengthen global collaboration on industry challenges and opportunities. In addition, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will reveal the official theme for the 2027 International Day of the Potato, further elevating the global importance of the crop.

Meet the Webinar Hosts and Congress Leaders

Dr. Dinah Jeruto Borus, Kenya Congress Program Co-Chair and Scientist Consultant, National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK)

Dr Dinah Jeruto Borus: Kenya Congress Program Co-Chair, Scientist Consultant at National Potato Council of Kenya. (NPCK is the Co-Host of the 13th World Potato Congress in Kenya.)

The webinar will feature insights from Dr. Dinah Jeruto Borus, a respected agricultural scientist and one of the key architects behind the 2026 Congress program. With more than 17 years of experience in potato research, climate-smart agriculture, value addition, and market development, Borus has worked extensively across Kenya and East Africa. Widely known as “Mama Viazi” among Kenyan potato farmers, she has played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable potato production and strengthening value chains throughout the region.

Chris Gasperi, Founder and Managing Director, FreshCrop Limited

Chris Gasperi: Founder & Managing Director for FreshCrop Limited, Kenya. FreshCrop is Co-Hosting the 2026 World Potato Congress alongside NPCK.

Chris Gasperi is the Founder and Managing Director of FreshCrop Limited, a leading agtech and fully integrated potato value chain company in Kenya. Driven by a mission to transform East Africa’s potato sub-sector, Chris has pioneered an end-to-end ecosystem that spans high-quality certified seed production, large-scale commercial farming, and state-of-the-art processing for fresh-cut fries and other potato products. 

Under his leadership, FreshCrop has scaled to support a network of over 15,000 smallholder farmers. Through an innovative "one-stop-shop" hub model, Chris’s team provides smallholders with critical access to certified seed, optimized inputs, mechanization, climate-smart agronomy training, and guaranteed market pull. By bridging these critical gaps, FreshCrop has enabled local farmers to drastically increase their crop yields and household incomes, shifting smallholders from subsistence farming to profitable, resilient agribusinesses. This holistic approach culminated in FreshCrop receiving the prestigious Presidential National Farmers Award for the top fully commercialized large-scale farm in Kenya.

Annual FreshCrop Ltd. Farmers’ Field Day and location of the Post-Congress Variety Trial and Inputs Demonstration Field

As Co-Host of the 13th World Potato Congress (WPC 2026) in Kenya, Chris is central to driving the event's vision of sustainable agricultural transformation. Holding an Executive Master’s degree in Administration from Wilkes University, his leadership bridges international corporate strategy with deep, on-the-ground execution. Beyond commercial impact, Chris is a dedicated conservationist leading FreshCrop’s initiative to plant one million trees, and is a past President of the Rotary Club of Nakuru. He looks forward to welcoming global delegates to FreshCrop's primary farming and processing operations during the post-Congress tours.

Dáire McCafferty, Project Manager, Keynote PCO, Ireland

Dáire McCafferty: Project Manager, Keynote PCO (Professional Conference Services). Keynote PCO, based out of Dublin, Ireland, is a Professional Conference Organizer, best known in the potato world for their organizing of the 11th World Potato Congress held in Dublin, Ireland.

Also speaking is Dáire McCafferty, Project Manager at Keynote PCO, the professional conference organizer supporting the delivery of WPC 2026. With more than a decade of experience managing international congresses and association events across Europe and beyond, McCafferty brings extensive expertise in conference planning and execution. He previously contributed to the successful organization of the 11th World Potato Congress in Dublin, Ireland, and will share insights into preparations for the Kenya event.

The webinar is expected to generate significant interest among industry stakeholders seeking to maximize networking opportunities, gain technical insights, and explore investment and partnership prospects ahead of one of the potato sector's most important global gatherings. 

The 13th World Potato Congress in Kenya is poised to showcase the country's growing influence within the international potato industry while highlighting innovation, sustainability, and collaboration across the global potato value chain.