Germany’s Potato Industry Calls for Urgent Research as Leafhopper Pest Threatens Crop Resilience

On the occasion of the Round Table on the Reed Glasswinged Leafhopper, held at the invitation of Federal Minister Rainer on 16 December 2025 in Berlin, the industry associations Union of the German Potato Industry (UNIKA) and the German Potato Trade Association (DKHV) urgently called for an intensification of practice-oriented research.

Dr. Justus Böhm, Chairman of the Advisory Board of UNIKA:

"The gradual spread of the reed glasswinged leafhopper and, consequently, the bacterial diseases it transmits to potatoes requires a comprehensive control strategy. Various measures across the entire arable farming sector—including integrated plant protection, innovations in pest control, and breeding—form the pillars of this strategy."

Martin Roffhack, Member of the DKHV Executive Board:

"We can maintain value creation in rural areas if we learn from the situation and respond quickly and in a targeted manner with coordinated packages of measures."

There is still insufficient knowledge about the pest–host plant complex. At the Round Table, Böhm and Roffhack advocated for increased funding for practice-oriented projects and the creation of appropriate personnel capacities at both federal and state levels.

Martin Roffhack:

"We must not jeopardize Germany as a cultivation location, as it not only ensures the supply of this high-quality product—potatoes—but also secures jobs, mainly in rural areas, thereby contributing to the strengthening of regional economic power."

Dr. Justus Böhm:

"Given the high level of commitment with which the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Food and Homeland, Alois Rainer, has addressed this issue and is working toward solutions, we are hopeful that effective measures and mechanisms can be developed. We would like to expressly thank Minister Rainer for this."

About the Associations

UNIKA, as the umbrella organization of the German potato sector, brings together all stages of the potato value chain—from breeding, seed potato production and multiplication to primary production, packing trade, and upstream and downstream sectors. 

The German Potato Trade Association (DKHV), as an independent business association, represents the interests of around 170 potato trading companies, packers, peeling companies, as well as breeders, growers, and manufacturers of packaging materials and potato technology.