News on Food Trends from Europe

The European Potato Processors’ Association (EUPPA) published its latest Facts and Figures for 2025, underlining the scale, economic impact and global trade reach of Europe’s potato processing industry.

En la Unión Europea, la caída de precios de las patatas fritas a fines de 2025 impulsó la demanda y las exportaciones en países como Bélgica, Países Bajos y Alemania. Fuera de Europa, la competencia de China e India y la baja de compras en varios mercados sigue limitando el crecimiento.

The European Snacks Association (ESA) has released its annual report outlining the association’s advocacy work, policy engagement, working group activities and key events during the year.

A southern Alberta farmer has been invited to speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, bringing Canadian agriculture into global discussions on resilient food systems. The annual forum concludes on Friday.

As Kuipers Food Processing Machinery marks its 40th anniversary, the Dutch equipment specialist reflects on decades of technical refinement, market-focused innovation and a consistent commitment to efficiency and sustainability.

IFA President Francie Gorman told the 71st IFA AGM that opposition to the Mercosur trade deal, securing a strong CAP budget and tackling rising costs will dominate IFA’s 2026 agenda, warning of food safety risks and pressure on farm incomes EU.

Jason O’Leary, a potato grower from Blackwater, Co. Wexford, has been elected Chair of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Potato Committee, which represents potato growers within Ireland’s largest farming organisation.

Germany’s potato industry calls for urgent research and coordinated measures against the spreading reed glasswinged leafhopper to protect cultivation, jobs, and regional economic strength.

Samuel Schär assumed office as CEO of Bühler Group on January 1, 2026, succeeding Stefan Scheiber. His appointment ensures continuity and stability as Bühler advances sustainable solutions for the food, feed, and mobility industries worldwide.

Scientists decoded a haplotype-resolved potato genome and GWAS of 141 accessions, identifying StTST2, a tonoplast sugar transporter. StTST2 boosts photosynthesis, sugar accumulation, source–sink transport, and tuber yield via interaction with SUT2.

DLG Benelux has officially changed its name to DLG Markets Benelux, effective immediately. The rebranding aligns with DLG International’s transition to DLG Markets and reinforces the organization’s focus on serving global and regional agri-food markets.1

Fruit Logistica 2026 (4–6 Feb, Berlin) brings the global fresh fruit industry together with six expert stages, 200 speakers and multilingual talks, covering markets, farming, technology, logistics and future innovation.

Royal Cosun advances sustainability through regional and national deals. Limburg sites cut 30,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, while a €73 (USD 85.6m) state agreement delivers a 167 kt CO₂ reduction by 2030, plus major nitrogen and ammonia cuts.

Agricultores y ganaderos de Castilla y León, junto a miles de productores europeos, protestarán en Bruselas para exigir un presupuesto agrícola justo y evitar los fuertes recortes propuestos para la PAC 2028–2034, que consideran una amenaza para el campo y para los consumidores.

Troostwijk Auctions launches six online auctions (18 Dec–15 Jan) to sell the full industrial assets of bankrupt Dutch potato processor CêlaVíta, offering high-quality potato processing, packaging and labelling machinery from leading brands.

Dutch arable farming plays an important role in national food security. Members of Parliament were able to experience this firsthand on Wednesday 3 December.

Castilla y León, líder español en producción de patata, enfrenta el desafío de mantener su regadío basado en aguas subterráneas bajo nuevas exigencias de sostenibilidad marcadas por la Unión Europea.

El índice de precios de alimentos de la FAO promedió 125,3 puntos en febrero de 2026, un 0,9 % más que en enero. El aumento de cereales, carnes y aceites vegetales compensó la caída de lácteos y azúcar.