Nieuws over trends in landbouw en voedsel uit Europa

The Simplot Company, a privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho, has completed its acquisition of Clarebout Potatoes, a leading European producer of frozen potato products based in Belgium.

Royal HZPC Group posts a strong 2024/25: revenue €525 M (USD 603 M), tonnage 1 M+, net profit €17.1 M (USD 19.8 M). Growers get €10.90 (USD 12.5) dividend. New varieties excel in French‑fry, chips, export and fresh markets, with acreage expected to grow further.

Mercados mundiales de papa bajo presión por exceso de oferta, clima y cuellos logísticos. Europa: producción abundante y precios bajos. Fuera: siembras tardías; valores bajos en Norteamérica, sobreoferta en Sudáfrica y dinamismo en Egipto y Pakistán.

Kiremko, Idaho Steel & Reyco name Gerardo Chiaia as CEO and Kees van der Drift as CFO, marking a new growth phase under Investindustrial. The group unites to drive global innovation and leadership in food processing systems.

British farmers face mounting pressures amid economic uncertainty, policy shifts, and unpredictable weather — with nearly three-quarters expressing pessimism about the industry’s future, according to McCain Foods’ inaugural Farmdex Report.

Belgium’s long-standing love affair with potatoes goes far beyond taste. Potatoes are central to the nation’s culinary identity, and the iconic frietkot - a fast-food stand dedicated to fries - is officially recognized as part of Belgium’s national intangible cultural heritage.

Produce Investments (PI) acquires Biofresh Safestore, a leader in fixed crop management. Combined with Restrain’s natural sprout suppression, the move expands PI’s tech portfolio, offering flexible, innovative storage solutions across Europe and beyond.

The classic Austrian potato variety 'Sieglinde' makes a comeback thanks to Priska and Erich Stekovics, who revived this nearly 100-year-old favorite. Now available again under SPAR as organic waxy potatoes for €1.99 (USD 2.15) at SPAR, EUROSPAR, and INTERSPAR.

Farming with Nature: Mapping the Growth Opportunity for UK Agriculture” maps 5.1 million hectares—almost one-third of the UK’s farmland—using geospatial data, on-farm assessments, and economic insights to guide sustainable and resilient farming practices.

A new survey by Young’s reveals 62% of Brits enjoy fish and chips on Fridays. Rising costs drive home-cooked versions, though 22% stick to takeaways. Ranked 2nd in UK food traditions, fish and chips remain a beloved Friday treat.

Germany’s POMORROW project will decode the genes of 6,357 potato varieties to advance breeding of drought-tolerant, pest-resistant and nutrient-efficient potatoes, supporting sustainable, climate-smart farming and securing future global food supplies.

CêlaVíta, the Dutch chilled potato processor once owned by McCain, will not restart after bankruptcy. All 171 jobs are lost as the Wezep factory is dismantled and auctioned, marking the end of a well-known name in potato processing.

Lamb Weston’s Frenzy Fries won Gold at the National Restaurant Pub and Bar Show Innovation Challenge for their creative, experiential concept. Judges praised the product’s innovation and market impact.

Royal HZPC Group plans to acquire Ireland-based IPM Potato Group, a leading seed potato breeder and exporter, boosting HZPC’s UK and global presence.

The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 128.8 points in September 2025, down slightly from its revised August level of 129.7 points. Declines in the cereal, dairy, sugar, and vegetable oil indices outweighed an increase in the meat index.

Biostimulant strategies can help potato crops better cope with field stress conditions, as well as enhance tuber numbers and proportion of marketable crop, according to results of plots at Potatoes in Practice Open Day at the James Hutton Institute.

On August 27, 2025, industry leaders met in the Netherlands for the conference Europe’s Place in a Changing Potato World, co-organised by Potato Europe, Europatat and World Potato Markets during Potato Europe 2025.

La recolección de patata en Salamanca sigue lenta: la siembra se retrasó más de un mes por lluvias y, con el poco interés de la distribución y los bajos precios, los agricultores no se animan a iniciar el arranque.