News on Food Trends from Europe

Experts from Harper Adams University have co-authored a comprehensive new guide to managing potato cyst nematodes (PCN), updating previous advice and combining biology, control strategies, and sampling methods into one essential resource.

Potatoes in Practice, the UK’s biggest field potato event, is on 7 August at Balruddery Farm. Hosted by James Hutton Institute, it brings growers, researchers, and industry leaders together to share innovations and advance the potato sector.

UPL Corp and CERSA at NC State University hosted the Global Mancozeb Summit at Rothamsted Research, UK, gathering global experts to discuss mancozeb’s vital role in crop protection as the EU prepares to review its regulatory status.

The 2025 Fight Against Blight campaign begins with new tools to track late blight in UK potatoes, warning of evolving fungicide resistance and urging growers to stay vigilant.

ChainCraft will build its first full-scale plant in the Netherlands, using residual potato juice from a nearby starch processing plant to produce circular fatty acids, creating even more value from the potato in a sustainable way.

Europatat held its annual General Assembly meeting June 12 in Lille (France). Members have elected a new Board to lead the association for the coming year and welcome Francisco Moya as Treasurer.

Lamb Weston opened a new factory in Kruiningen, Netherlands, focused on sustainability. The facility reuses water and heat throughout production, making the process more efficient and eco-friendly while delivering high-quality frozen fries.

Polysense, a Belgian technology start-up, raised EUR 2 million (USD 2.3 million) from tech entrepreneurs to further disrupt the food industry. The company specialises in AI solutions for production processes to reduce waste and increase efficiency. 

El proyecto supone aprovechar los residuos de los procesos de industrialización de patata y darle así un giro sustentable a la cadena de valor.

At PotatoEurope 2025, fifteen top companies will showcase trials on potato cultivation, with 309 exhibitors and 15,000 visitors expected. The event highlights innovation, demos, and global networking across the potato value chain.

DormFresh and TASC International opened a EUR 600,000 Trial and Research Center in Rosche, Germany, to develop sustainable potato storage solutions post-CIPC ban. The facility supports EU trials, focusing on eco-friendly sprout inhibition methods.

GB Potatoes has joined HCP to secure vital crop protection authorisations for the UK seed potato sector, using AHDB levy funds. A new technical group will prioritise needs, ensuring sustainable, high-quality seed and ware potato production.

The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 127.7 points in May 2025, down 1.0 points (0.8 percent) from April. While the price indices for dairy products and meat increased, they were more than offset by declines in those for cereals, sugar and vegetable oils.

Scientists, led by Dr Rob Hancock, Deputy Director of the Hutton’s Advanced Plant Growth Centre, have been working as part of a European consortium to develop tools for the development of multi-stress tolerant potatoes

By mid-March, Hans Huistra, CEO of the Royal HZPC Group, had done a good deal of driving on Dutch highways. He rushed from meeting to meeting, sharing the good news that last season's average prices will be historically high with affiliated seed potato growers.

Lutosa celebrated a key milestone in its development at Waregem, with the official inauguration of a vast industrial investment project.

“El aumento en el consumo de productos de patata se debe a la demanda de soluciones prácticas, la preferencia por lo tradicional y la revalorización de sus propiedades nutricionales"

Intrac Geosystems enhances farming with ISOBUS planting systems and electric drones for spraying, seeding, and fertilizing. The solutions improve efficiency, cut costs, and support crops like potatoes, even in adverse conditions like those in Galicia