News on Climate Change from Belgium

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Europe faces significant potato production losses in 2026 as drought and extreme heat reduce yields across major growing regions. (AI-generated illustration by PotatoPro)
September 21, 2026
Europe Faces One of Its Smallest Potato Harvests as Production Losses Could Exceed EUR 800 Million
Industry forecasts indicate extreme heat and drought could cut potato production by more than 3.5 million tonnes across Great Britain and NEPG countries in 2026, with losses valued at up to EUR 818 million (USD 937.4 million).
Extreme heat and drought leave Belgian potato fields with smaller tubers, raising concerns over supplies for the country’s world-leading frozen fries industry.
September 13, 2026
Belgian Fries Under Threat as Extreme Heat Shrinks Potato Crop
Belgium’s potato crop is shrinking under extreme heat and drought, threatening supplies for its famous fries. Smaller potatoes could tighten availability, raise costs and push up prices across the country’s € frozen fries industry.
Scorching temperatures and prolonged drought across Europe are raising concerns over potato yields and quality as crops enter critical growth stages.
July 02, 2026
Europe's Heatwave Puts Potato Crops Under Pressure as Heat and Drought Threaten Yield and Quality
Europe’s potato sector faces pressure as temperatures exceed 40°C in key growing regions. With crops in critical growth stages, prolonged heat and drought could cut yields, affect quality, and increase irrigation needs, raising supply concerns.
Europatat welcomes the EU’s adoption of the New Genomic Techniques (NGT) Regulation, a landmark decision expected to accelerate potato breeding innovation, strengthen crop resilience, enhance food security, and support the long-term sustainability of European agriculture.
June 22, 2026
Europatat Welcomes EU NGT Regulation, Opening New Opportunities for Potato Innovation
Europatat welcomes the EU’s adoption of the NGT Regulation, opening new opportunities for innovative potato varieties with improved disease resistance, climate adaptability, and processing traits, while boosting breeding research and investment.
European Snacks Association Releases Sustainability Report, Showcasing Progress in Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Responsibility.
November 10, 2025
European Snacks Association (ESA) publishes its 2025 Sustainability Report
The European Snacks Association releases its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting members’ efforts in resource efficiency, sustainable sourcing, energy savings, and eco-friendly packaging, supporting the EU Green Deal and circular economy initiatives.
Welcome to the second International Day of Potato in Brussels, 27 May 2025 — uniting potato value chain leaders to celebrate innovation, sustainability, and the crop’s future.
May 31, 2025
Brussels Marks International Day of Potato with High-Level Conference and 'Seed-to-Fork' Exhibition
Brussels marked the 2nd International Day of Potato with a conference and exhibition, highlighting the crop's role in food security, sustainability, and innovation. Stakeholders called for supportive EU policies to boost the potato value chain.
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Potato tubers in the field
July 02, 2024
North-western European potato growers: Never such a difficult planting season, never so much uncertainties about the harvest!
Very late and difficult planting conditions and emergence problems on a large scale are cause of concern in some of the main production regions in North-western Europe.
Potato field rows with green bushes
October 10, 2023
Temporada difícil para los productores de semilla en Europa afectará la disponibilidad para los mercados de exportación
La temporada de cultivo de 2023 trajo desafíos sin precedentes para los productores de semilla de papa en Europa. Condiciones climáticas desfavorables y una reducción en la superficie sembrada han provocado retrasos en la siembra, disminución de los rendimientos y una importante escasez de semilla.
‘Climate breakdown’: 2023 likely to be hottest year humanity has experienced in EU Countries
September 10, 2023
‘Climate breakdown’: 2023 expected to be hottest year humanity has experienced
Scientists confirmed this week that summer 2023 was the hottest season the world has ever seen by a large margin. Europe is warming almost twice as fast as the global average, at about 2.2C above pre-industrial times.
Climate change will reduce the total potato production in Belgium, Netherlands, France and Germany by 7 to 11 % despite an increase in hectares, according to the latest estimates of the North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG).
September 15, 2022
NEPG: Climate change will reduce the total potato production in Belgium, Netherlands, France and Germany by 7 to 11 % despite an increase in hectares
During its last meeting prior to Potato Europe 2022, the North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG) estimates that global potato production in the NEPG zone (EU-04) will be down by 7 to 11 %.
How do different potatoes respond to heat, drought, and waterlogging stresses? EU-backed scientists are investigating the changes that make potatoes resilient or susceptible.
May 15, 2022
On the path to stress-tolerant potatoes
How do different potatoes respond to heat, drought, and waterlogging stresses? EU-backed scientists are investigating the changes that make potatoes resilient or susceptible.
ADAPT project: farmer’s survey’s points out climate change as the biggest threat to potato production in Europe
July 15, 2021
ADAPT project: farmer’s survey’s points out climate change as the biggest threat to potato production in Europe
Europatat is part of an international consortium involved in the research project ADAPT (“Accelerated Development of multiple-stress tolerAnt PoTato”), which aims at developing new strategies to make potatoes fit for the challenging growth conditions of the future.
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Declaración de Copa-Cogeca, Europatat, Euroseeds y Starch Europe sobre las nuevas técnicas genómicas en el mejoramiento de la patata.
June 29, 2021
Agricultores, cooperativas, industriales y semillistas apoyan el uso de las nuevas técnicas genómicas en la patata para adaptarse al cambio climático
Declaración de Copa-Cogeca, Europatat, Euroseeds y Starch Europe sobre las nuevas técnicas genómicas en el mejoramiento de la patata.
Making The Future Of Food Sustainable
November 25, 2019
Making The Future Of Food Sustainable
Nicolai Prytz, sustainability and strategy director at TOMRA, has looked at how businesses, consumers and policymakers can help make the future of food sustainable.
ENGIE Refrigeration's Mechanical Refrigeration Only Potato Storage System results in a longer storage life, less than 3% dehydration and substantially lower energy costs.
November 17, 2018
Engie Refrigeration presents its 'Mechanical Ventilation Only' Potato Storage system at Interpom | Primeurs
ENGIE Refrigeration has developed a storage system based entirely on mechanical refrigeration, which allows maintaining the same storage conditions throughout the year.
Secondary growth (NL: doorwas), especially for the potato variety Bintje, is the most important quality issue this year
(Courtesy: Farm Frites)
November 08, 2018
North-western European Potato Growers: harvest down 20 percent at least
The total potato harvest in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France in 2018 will be at least 20 percent lower than last year, according to the latest estimates of the North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG).
From the archive
Marc Van Herreweghe, the new Chairman of Belgapom and CEO of Mydibel
October 18, 2018
The Challenges of the Potato Industry: Interview with Marc Van Herreweghe, CEO of Mydibel and New Chairman of Belgapom
In this interview, Marc Van Herreweghe, the new Chairman of Belgapom and CEO of Mydibel, discusses the challenges this Belgian Potato Association faces going forward, as well as sustainability issues and problems related to recent weather conditions.
From the archive
Brent Bucks, R&D Director for industrial cutting machines producer FAM, explains how potato chips processors can increase revenues despite the low quality crop
September 05, 2018
A Shortage of Potatoes for Chips? Time to re-evaluate your cutting solutions, says FAM
Brent Bucks of knife manufacturer FAM explains how potato chips processors can increase revenues despite the low quality crop
From the archive

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