News on Potato Cultivation from Europe

Dutch growers and the Dutch Potato Organisation (NAO) support the Outline Crop Protection Covenant to reduce environmental impacts, improve water quality and boost innovation while promoting legal certainty and sustainable potato production.

Los primeros arranques ya han comenzado en Villalazán y El Carpio. Inicia así una campaña marcada por la innovación, la sostenibilidad y el trabajo conjunto con los agricultores

Advanced post-harvest technologies are helping cut food waste, reduce carbon emissions, improve storage efficiency, and strengthen sustainable food supply chains through AI, IoT, precision sorting, renewable energy, and smart cold storage solutions.

GB Potatoes reports that longer potato rotations are boosting UK production by improving soil health, controlling pests and diseases, and supporting sustainable farming. Research shows diverse rotations increase yields, food value & resilience.

Aviko's 2026 Annual Growers' Meeting reviewed the 2025 harvest, announced pool prices, and discussed market developments ahead of the 2026 crop. The meeting also highlighted collaboration across the potato value chain.

Digitalization, precision machinery, and AI are reshaping potato production. The article highlights advances in planting, crop care, harvesting, storage, and optical sorting that improve efficiency, quality, and labor productivity.

La cosecha de papa en Salamanca comenzará formalmente la próxima semana en un contexto de incertidumbre productiva y de precios, marcado por diferencias entre zonas, competencia con cosechas tardías de Andalucía y Toledo, excedentes franceses y valores más bajos que en años anteriores.

Around 70 Dutch seed potato growers watched an autonomous robot identify virus-infected plants during a field demonstration. The robot marks infected plants for easier manual removal, while automated removal is being explored for future versions.

NEPG reports an 11% decline in European ware potato plantings for 2026 as growers cut acreage to rebalance oversupplied markets. The group warns low contract prices and rising production costs threaten farm viability.

Europe’s potato sector faces pressure as temperatures exceed 40°C in key growing regions. With crops in critical growth stages, prolonged heat and drought could cut yields, affect quality, and increase irrigation needs, raising supply concerns.

AVR has strengthened its Dutch dealer network by appointing Kamps de Wild Beilen as its official dealer. The company takes over the former Selles Agrotechniek territory, boosting sales, service, parts availability and customer support.

Potato Business School completed its June 15–18 international training course, giving participants practical experience across the potato value chain through presentations, company visits and hands-on sessions.

GB Potatoes and Branston will host a low-carbon farming event in Lincolnshire on 28 July, while GB Potatoes joins Defra’s Expert Growers Group. The industry also awaits updates on UK-EU seed potato trade and the new Farming Roadmap.

Potato Demo Day 2026 has opened visitor registration for its September event in Westmaas. The programme includes more than 120 exhibitors, 25 knowledge sessions, machinery demonstrations, a Startup Plaza and activities covering the potato value chain

Europatat welcomes the EU’s adoption of the NGT Regulation, opening new opportunities for innovative potato varieties with improved disease resistance, climate adaptability, and processing traits, while boosting breeding research and investment.

DKHV has launched the first module of its Potato Specialist training program in Hermannsburg, bringing together industry professionals for practical and classroom-based training on potato cultivation, crop protection, field assessment and breeding.

On May 30, the International Day of the Potato was celebrated worldwide, highlighting the potato’s role in food security, sustainability, economic development and culinary diversity beyond its importance as a staple food.

La campaña de patata en Andalucía avanza con menos superficie sembrada pero mejores perspectivas de rendimiento, en medio de la presión de las importaciones de patata vieja francesa, el riesgo de solapamiento entre cosechas nacionales y un fuerte aumento de los costos de producción.