News on Food Trends

A research team, including Michigan State University Assistant Professor Olivia Smith, gained international recognition in 2024 for a study showing that agricultural diversification benefits both growers and the environment worldwide.

Europatat Congress 2025 in Lille brought together Europe’s potato leaders to tackle challenges like climate change, shifting consumption, and global trade. With optimism, speakers stressed innovation, sustainability, and adapting to consumer demands.

Groupe Florimond Desprez (GFD) acquired DLF’s 49% stake in Danespo A/S, becoming majority owner. The move strengthens GFD’s seed potato business, aligning Danespo and Germicopa under shared leadership and future investments.

If you think making potato snacks is simply a case of slicing spuds and tossing them into hot oil, think again! Behind every perfectly crisp packet of crisps or golden chip lies a world of challenges, clever fixes, and constant innovation.

In the second half of 2024 alone, multiple high-profile contaminant outbreaks shook the food industry—and challenged consumers’ trust in it.

La federación de productores de México se ha organizado para lanzar una campaña que defienda los intereses comunes del grupo: el consumo de papa producida en el país.

De la mano de instituciones gubernamentales el país logra importantes avances en la certificación de su proceso de producción de semilla. Se espera que miles de familias puedan abastecerse pronto del nuevo material genético.

Open Farm Sunday 2025 saw a 20% rise in host farms, welcoming 200,000 visitors. The event strengthened public connections to farming, highlighted sustainability, and inspired youth interest in agriculture. Next year’s event is on 7th June 2026.

Goodrich Cereals will showcase innovative potato products, including flavored fries and appetizers, at SIAL Malaysia 2025 (Booth 3K144). With a focus on quality and sustainability, the company continues to lead in global potato processing.

Gracias a fuertes inversiones y apoyo estatal, China pasó de importar a exportar grandes volúmenes, alterando el comercio global del sector y afectando la demanda de papas fritas norteamericanas.

Robots in potato farming help ease labor shortages, cut costs, and boost yields by automating tasks like planting and harvesting. Paired with smart tools like crop monitoring, they improve efficiency, reduce waste, and support sustainable farming.

Hungritos impressed at Seoul Food & Hotel (SFH) 2025 in Seoul with innovative frozen snacks, live demos, and global engagement, strengthening its international presence and export partnerships.

Potatoes in Practice, the UK’s biggest field potato event, is on 7 August at Balruddery Farm. Hosted by James Hutton Institute, it brings growers, researchers, and industry leaders together to share innovations and advance the potato sector.

Cavendish Farms is launching a sustainability project on Prince Edward Island to help potato growers adopt eco-friendly practices, focusing on water use, pest control, and soil health. A farm advisory group will guide research and share results with local farmers.

Goodrich Cereals showcases its innovative frozen fries, potato appetizers, flakes, and dehydrated veggies at JFEX 2025, Tokyo (Booth 3-21), highlighting quality, flavor, and sustainability to expand in Japan’s premium food market.

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.

Chad Hutchinson of TriCal Group joins the World Potato Congress Inc. Board as a Director. A global expert in potato research and soil health, he brings decades of experience supporting growers and advancing crop production worldwide.

United States potato exports fell 4% in volume and 1% in value (July 2024–March 2025), mainly due to lower dehydrated and chip exports. Frozen, fresh, and seed exports rose, with strong gains in Japan, Taiwan, and Guatemala despite China-India competition.