Potato News from Europe

Belgium’s long-standing love affair with potatoes goes far beyond taste. Potatoes are central to the nation’s culinary identity, and the iconic frietkot - a fast-food stand dedicated to fries - is officially recognized as part of Belgium’s national intangible cultural heritage.

Produce Investments (PI) acquires Biofresh Safestore, a leader in fixed crop management. Combined with Restrain’s natural sprout suppression, the move expands PI’s tech portfolio, offering flexible, innovative storage solutions across Europe and beyond.

The classic Austrian potato variety 'Sieglinde' makes a comeback thanks to Priska and Erich Stekovics, who revived this nearly 100-year-old favorite. Now available again under SPAR as organic waxy potatoes for €1.99 (USD 2.15) at SPAR, EUROSPAR, and INTERSPAR.

Farming with Nature: Mapping the Growth Opportunity for UK Agriculture” maps 5.1 million hectares—almost one-third of the UK’s farmland—using geospatial data, on-farm assessments, and economic insights to guide sustainable and resilient farming practices.

Project Oppotunity completed the first CRISPR-Cas field trials of starch potatoes bred for late blight resistance, with test plots in Sweden and Denmark. Early results indicate stronger disease resistance and a very promising path to resilient crops.

The European RUCIP Committee held a webinar on October 17, 2025 to mark the launch of the RUCIP 2025 Rules, highlighting updates for simpler, faster, and fairer resolution of potato trade disputes across Europe.

The 'Ultimate Roast Potato' named after a much-loved film character is back on shelves after high demand. Branston says deliveries of its Nemo potato will rise 87 % this season versus 2024, bringing faster-cooking, great-tasting roasts to more homes!

A new survey by Young’s reveals 62% of Brits enjoy fish and chips on Fridays. Rising costs drive home-cooked versions, though 22% stick to takeaways. Ranked 2nd in UK food traditions, fish and chips remain a beloved Friday treat.

Germany’s POMORROW project will decode the genes of 6,357 potato varieties to advance breeding of drought-tolerant, pest-resistant and nutrient-efficient potatoes, supporting sustainable, climate-smart farming and securing future global food supplies.

Poland records its strongest potato harvest in years, surpassing 7.5 million tons. Favorable weather lifted yields, but growers face lower prices, quality challenges, and pressure for sustainable packaging solutions

Flikweert Vision officially signed a dealership agreement with Volm Companies, marking a major milestone in its international expansion. The signing took place in Zeeland, where Volm’s Wayne DeCou and Matthew Alexander joined CEO Martijn Flikweert.

CêlaVíta, the Dutch chilled potato processor once owned by McCain, will not restart after bankruptcy. All 171 jobs are lost as the Wezep factory is dismantled and auctioned, marking the end of a well-known name in potato processing.

On September 25 and 26, 2025, Verbruggen Palletizing Solutions celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters in Emmeloord, the Netherlands.

FAM STUMABO is expanding globally with new facilities in Spain, Germany, and the USA, reinforcing its commitment to customer proximity, service excellence, and a stronger direct presence across key international markets.

Selecting the right cutting method is vital for accuracy, reduced waste, and consistent texture. Herbort GmbH launches the universal 122W cutting machine, offering precision, versatility, and efficiency in fruit and vegetable processing.

Grup Șerban Holding, Romania’s top potato producer and supplier, joins Europatat. Farming 13,000 ha, it supplies PepsiCo and retailers, expands storage and builds a frozen potato plant. Listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (GSH).

'La patata de calidad se carga, pero la otra no se quiere' . El precio no cubre costos y hay dificultades con los contratos.

Updated RUCIP Rules have taken effect on October 1 2025, modernizing potato trade in Europe with clearer structure, digital processes, and improved dispute resolution. Learn key changes in a free webinar on 17 Oct 2025, 09:00 CEST.