News on Potato Varieties and Seed

Modern potatoes are bred from a relatively narrow genetic pool, while the diseases and environmental pressures affecting potato production continue to evolve.

En Mendoza, el encuentro “Habemus Papas II” impulsó la creación de un clúster papero orientado a mejorar la productividad, diversificar la producción con papines andinos y articular al sector a través de innovación, sostenibilidad y vínculos entre productores, industria e instituciones.

Agrico reports strong performance from Babylon, Vogue, Paradiso and Fajah potato varieties in Cyprus despite heavy rainfall, cold weather and strong winds. New varieties Feliz, Jamaica and Sivas also show promising results.

The Dutch potato sector used International Potato Day to highlight its role in global food security, innovation, and economic growth. Industry leaders and policymakers emphasized cooperation, sustainability, and support to maintain global leadership.

Wageningen and the Dutch government are moving forward with a field trial of NTG-edited potatoes to strengthen resistance to late blight and reduce pesticide use, in a context of regulatory change in the European Union.

Potatoes in Practice 2026 returns on August 13 at Balruddery Farm near Dundee with SPOT robotic dog demos, live cooking by Sarah Rankin, field trials and seminars.

Montevideo will host the 31st ALAP Congress 2027, in the context of the 50th anniversary of the Latin American Potato Association.

Madhya Pradesh is emerging as a strategic hub for India’s French fry potato industry, driven by early harvests, suitable soil conditions, rising processor-grade cultivation, and expanding cold storage and agro-processing infrastructure.

FAO announced International Day of Potato 2026 theme 'Where potatoes grow, livelihoods flourish', highlighting role of potatoes in food security and farmer livelihoods. Focus on smallholders, resilient value chains, climate and pest challenges.

Royal HZPC Group CEO Hans Huistra joined Narendra Modi and top Dutch CEOs in The Hague to strengthen India–Netherlands cooperation, reinforcing HZPC’s growing strategic presence in India.

Grimmway Produce Group launches a unified corporate website, bringing its brands under one platform. The site highlights products, careers, and impact, marking a new phase of growth, integration, and engagement.

Europatat welcomes MEDIPO AGRAS H.B. spol. s r.o., a Czech potato specialist with 30+ years of expertise in seed, ware and processing potatoes, offering over 100 potato varieties across Europe.

To combat the decline in the number of growers and in domestic production, the government is authorizing trials with GMO varieties, a disruptive move by European standards.

PotatoEurope 2026 will return to Germany on September 9-10, 2026, at the Rittergut Gestorf estate near Hanover, showcasing the latest technology and innovations in potato cultivation and processing.

Chip potato movement remains slow and steady as the industry transitions from storage potatoes to new-crop potatoes.

The visit by a delegation from Qinghai University and Yunnan Agricultural University is focused on academic exchange, technological advancement, and the development of joint projects.

In the Netherlands, the weak table potato market, fewer contracts and disappointing exports are putting pressure on the seed potato market. HZPC and Agrico describe the current situation as a market correction following exceptionally strong years.

Researchers at Michigan State University have developed five new potato varieties designed to strengthen the United States potato chip supply through improved disease resistance, storage performance and processing reliability.