News on Energy and Environment

The Dutch Potato Organisation celebrated Potato Tuesday on October 6 at Utrecht Central Station during the Week of Our Food. Visitors can enjoy free recipe booklets and discover the people behind the Dutch potato industry.

Polysense has opened its first US office in Chicago to serve food manufacturers across the US and Canada, expanding its AI-driven quality control and process optimization solutions for potato, bakery, and fruit and vegetable processing.

World Potato Congress launches the 'Growing the Future' Youth Engagement & 4K Club Program in Kenya, bringing 40 students from 10 schools together to learn potato production, compete in five categories and build a lasting agricultural legacy.

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).

PotatoEurope 2026 and SugarBeet Expo opened in Germany, showcasing innovations for climate-resilient root-crop production. DLG President Paetow highlighted drought, pests, global markets and the need for competitive, sustainable farming systems.

El Niño has reached a record 3.05°C, surpassing the 2015 high. Scientists warn the powerful event could worsen heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires and food insecurity as global temperatures continue to rise.

Royal HZPC Group highlights how potato breeding can reduce disease pressure and crop protection needs, while Integrated Crop Management and climate adaptation help build more resilient and sustainable production systems.

The 1st International Symposium of Potato will bring together more than 400 professionals in Madrid on October 5, 2026, to discuss potato production, trade, plant health and opportunities across the European potato value chain.

Switzerland is facing a record-low potato harvest after the hot summer reduced production to 20 percent below the six-year average. Domestic potatoes now cover only 70 to 75 percent of demand, increasing the need for imports.

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.

WPC 2026 preparations are accelerating in Kenya, with the Farmers Field Day at FreshCrop taking shape alongside new speakers, partners and international registrations ahead of the global potato Congress in Naivasha.

PepsiCo's 2026 Global Agro University brought potato growers and agricultural experts to Germany to share practical knowledge and technologies for improving potato yield, quality, storage, precision farming and production efficiency worldwide.

European potato supplies are tightening as acreage declines and heatwaves pressure yields. France is particularly affected by severe water stress, prompting CNIPT to call for purchasing and sales strategies to reflect current market conditions.

ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026 opens in Hong Kong from 2–4 September, bringing 760+ exhibitors from 41 countries together for fresh produce business, networking, innovation, technology, market insights and new opportunities.

Scottish researchers led by the University of Glasgow have developed a bacteriocin-based treatment to suppress potato blackleg and soft rot. Supported by IBioIC the research has led to spin-out Casdu Crop Solutions.

Emsland Group’s SBTi-validated targets aim to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50.4% and Scope 3 emissions by 30% by 2030, from a 2018 base year. The company also targets net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2045.

The 23rd EAPR Triennial Conference will bring 300+ potato experts to Edinburgh in 2027 to explore 'Sustainable Potato Production for a Changing World.' Register, submit abstracts or explore sponsorship.

Extreme heat in Gangwon Province, South Korea, is damaging potatoes and other crops. Farmers report potatoes rotting in the soil, raising concerns over crop losses and higher agricultural prices ahead of Chuseok.