News on Sustainability from the United States

Secondary packaging in 2026 focuses on sustainability, retail-ready designs, recyclable variety packs, and robotics. BPA supports food producers with efficient, cost-saving automation while ensuring EPR compliance and optimized machine TCO.

For more than 60 years, R.D. Offutt Farms has paired science with stewardship to grow potatoes the right way. This January, the company doubled down on that commitment, selecting Wadena County as the home of a new 90-acre potato research farm.

Potato Expo 2026, North America’s largest potato industry event, heads to Dallas Jan. 6–8. Featuring 180 exhibitors, 30+ sessions, and major networking, it unites the global potato supply chain to drive innovation, advocacy, and collaboration.

As harvest begins across the country, it’s go time for growers, agronomists, and farm managers—an ideal moment to showcase the versatility of the Soiltech Beacon, often called the Swiss Army Knife of ag sensors, shining brightest during harvest.

Cornell marks 160 years of potato breeding, creating 50+ varieties—including top U.S. chip potatoes and nematode-resistant strains. Farmer partnerships and USDA support drive innovation, boosting sustainability and the USD 100B U.S. potato industry.

Eastern Oregon potato growers face rising costs as U.S. tariffs hit fertilizer, equipment, and exports. Industry leaders warn of lost markets to China and long-term risks if tariffs persist.

Gov. Mills and UMaine leaders reopened the modernized Aroostook Farm after a USD 3 Million upgrade, boosting Maine’s potato research with advanced tech to speed new variety development like the Caribou Russet, supporting jobs and the agri-economy.

Lawmakers toured Aroostook County to explore Maine’s potato industry, seeing innovative tech and learning how policy affects farming. The trip aimed to boost understanding of agricultural challenges and support.

Robots in potato farming help ease labor shortages, cut costs, and boost yields by automating tasks like planting and harvesting. Paired with smart tools like crop monitoring, they improve efficiency, reduce waste, and support sustainable farming.

With a focus on Making Fries and Making Strides, Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. issued its annual Global Sustainability Report, providing updates on the company’s performance against key sustainability and people initiatives during its fiscal year 2024.

Alsum Farms & Produce awarded USD 10,000 in scholarships to 10 Wisconsin high school seniors for academic, agricultural, and community excellence. The program supports future ag leaders.

Pro Farm Group introduces ARINO™ insecticide/ nematicide, for the management of nematodes and wireworms in potatoes, onions and other bulb and tuberous vegetables. 

TIPA, a global leader in compostable packaging innovation, is launching an advanced home compostable metallized high-barrier film. The solution addresses critical challenges in eco-conscious packaging for chips and salty snacks, offering enhanced functionality and durability in a biodegradable solution.

As the third largest potato-producing state in the nation, Wisconsin potatoes have an important story to tell about feeding families with sustainably produced Wisconsin potatoes.

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc., a leading global potato supplier, has announced its partnership with Atlas Agro for the procurement of locally produced, green fertilizers. 

Countries must start curbing emissions immediately, according to the UN Emissions Gap Report 2024.

Einride, a freight mobility company that provides digital, electric and autonomous technology, has announced its partnership with PepsiCo, with a fleet of digitally optimized electric trucks live in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sustainable farming is making headlines after researchers discovered a unique connection between organic farming and carbon storage in soil, according to an article posted on Phys.org.