Europatat highlights policy, plant health, trade and sustainability priorities in 2025-2026 Activity Report

Europatat has published its Activity Report 2025–2026, providing an overview of the association's work across agricultural policy, plant health, food safety, trade and market access, sustainability, research and innovation. The association currently has 71 members from more than 20 countries, comprising 19 national associations, 44 companies and 8 associated members. Europatat also welcomed new members during the past year, including a member from Romania.

Tigran Richter, President of Europatat:

"Yes, we are facing major challenges and a significant workload. But equally, Europatat brings together an exceptional level of expertise and knowledge. Strengthening cooperation across all Commissions and Working Groups, implementing agreed strategies, and ensuring the active participation of all members will be key to securing the future success of our sector."

Agricultural policy and promotion

Europatat followed negotiations on the EU Regulation for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), with a provisional agreement between the European Parliament and the Council reached in December 2025. The association also highlighted the European Commission's adoption of the 2026 Annual Work Programme for EU agri-food promotion policy, allocating EUR 160 million to promotion campaigns.

In December 2025, Europatat concluded the six-year EU co-funded promotion campaign "Potatoes, prepare to be surprised – Europe's favourite since 1536," which was launched in 2020 together with partners from Ireland, Belgium and France.

Plant health and food safety

Europatat continued its work on plant health issues including wireworms, late blight and Stolbur. The association also remained engaged in discussions on the reform of the EU Plant Reproductive Material (PRM) Regulation, which includes provisions affecting seed potatoes.

On food safety, Europatat developed guidance leaflets for consumers and business operators on glycoalkaloids in potatoes following the adoption of Commission Recommendation 2022/561.

Trade and market access

Trade and market access remained a core priority during 2025–2026. Europatat continued work on issues affecting exports of EU seed potatoes to Egypt and Türkiye and remained engaged in discussions on a future EU–UK Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement that could provide a framework for the resumption of seed potato trade between the European Union and Great Britain.

Sustainability and research

Europatat launched its first annual sustainability survey in 2025 and continued work on sustainability indicators for the potato supply chain. The association also participated in the Horizon Europe projects WASTELESS, PataFEST and POMATO, while launching the Europatat Research Fund under its Strategy 2025–2028 to support technical projects relevant to the potato sector.