Potato News from Europe

Plant protection, bureaucracy, and production costs – these are just some of the issues currently weighing heavily on Germany’s specialty crop sector.

Potato Demo Day 2026 will be held on 2 September 2026 in Westmaas, focusing on knowledge sharing, innovation, and networking. New highlights include the Startup Square and live demos, alongside key programs like the Young Farmers Program and Knowledge Barn.

Agrico Ukraine’s dream becomes reality! Premium potato varieties Ranomi and Alouette are now available in Silpo, Novus, and Metro stores. A proud milestone powered by teamwork, strong partnerships, and hope for Ukraine.

The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 126.4 points in October 2025, down 2.1 points (1.6 percent) from the revised September level of 128.5 points, marking its second consecutive monthly decline.

Tummers Food Processing Solutions and Callens partner to advance the E²E (Emission-to-Energy) concept, aiming for emission-free, fully automated potato processing through sustainable energy, heat integration, and smart steam management.

Dutch TecSource B.V. ships a complete specialty food processing line to Northern France, including blancher, counterflow cooler, cooker, and buffer system. Pre-built for seamless integration, showcasing DTS’s tailor-made solutions and team excellence.

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.

Ukraine’s MAIS has started building the country’s first potato processing plant producing fries, flakes, and flour. Handling 180,000 t of potatoes annually, it aims to reduce imports, boost exports, and modernize Ukraine’s potato sector by 2027.

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.

AVR launches the finalized version of its legendary self-propelled harvester: the AVR Puma. With a sensational new design at all levels — the ultimate version of a legend, the final roar.

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.

Project Oppotunity completed the first CRISPR-Cas field trials of starch potatoes bred for late blight resistance, with test plots in Sweden and Denmark. Early results indicate stronger disease resistance and a very promising path to resilient crops.