News on Food Trends from Europe

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

In celebration of International Day of Potato, DKHV & UNIKA launch a LinkedIn series on May 24, 2025, showcasing the potato’s global impact on food, culture, and innovation—plus a postcard campaign for key decision-makers. #PotatoCosmosCulture

The potato feeds over a billion people but faces disease and limited diversity. Investing in research, breeding, and farmer support is vital to improve resilience and productivity, ensuring it remains a key staple for global food security.

Clarebout Potatoes, a top Belgian frozen fries producer, is in advanced talks with US giant J.R. Simplot for a major deal, possibly worth billions. The move could expand both firms’ global reach amid rising industry competition.

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.