News on The Potato Supply Chain from the Americas

Tolsma-Grisnich introduces Optica S, an optical sorter that removes stones, clods, soil and crop defects before storage. With capacities up to 80 tonnes per hour, it improves storage efficiency, reduces waste and boosts returns for growers.

PepsiCo is combining AI, regenerative agriculture and ag-tech partnerships to help farmers improve soil health, use resources efficiently and strengthen farm resilience, including at a fourth-generation potato farm in Alberta, Canada.

PAPAS researchers spotlight Idaho’s pale cyst nematode challenge in AGDAILY, highlighting trap crops, biofumigation, resistant varieties, and integrated strategies to advance eradication and protect potato production.

EarthFresh Butter Potatoes are gaining momentum across North America, reaching over 4 million households. With acreage up 40% and 100% incremental sales, the premium lineup offers retailers new opportunities to grow the potato category.

Idaho’s 2026 potato harvest is showing solid quality but lower yields, with frost, heat, warm nights and wildfire smoke affecting production. Planted area fell to 298,915 acres as growers report smaller crops.

Deprez has partnered with Exeter Engineering to strengthen its presence in North America. The collaboration will focus on providing automated solutions to improve product flow, storage and handling for citrus processors and packers.

PepsiCo will invest USD 1 billion in Colombia over five years to expand production and distribution, an investment that could strengthen its potato supply chain, where it is already the country’s largest industrial buyer at around 84,000 tonnes per year.

El Niño has reached a record 3.05°C, surpassing the 2015 high. Scientists warn the powerful event could worsen heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires and food insecurity as global temperatures continue to rise.

The National Potato Congress 2026 will bring together the Mexican potato sector from October 14 to 16 in Mexico City to address innovation, productivity, sustainability and commercialization.

European potato supplies are tightening as acreage declines and heatwaves pressure yields. France is particularly affected by severe water stress, prompting CNIPT to call for purchasing and sales strategies to reflect current market conditions.

Hansen Farms in Rupert, Idaho, is preparing for its September 14 potato harvest as summer heat affects crop quality and water concerns grow. The fourth-generation farm grows seven potato varieties across about 60 fields.

In Argentina, the PapaDX app incorporates artificial intelligence to analyze images of potato crops, guide diagnoses of sanitary, nutritional or environmental problems, issue weather alerts and support management decisions without replacing professional assessment.

Potandon Produce has launched the Potandon Grower Alliance, bringing together premier grower partners to strengthen quality, innovation and supply-chain collaboration while supporting Green Giant Fresh potato and onion growth across North America.

India’s potato industry needs a stronger seed ecosystem to close its productivity gap. Scientific seed multiplication, digital agronomy and market-aligned varieties can improve yields, reduce risks and build a profitable supply chain.

Uno de los puntos productivos más importantes de Veracruz sufre el impacto de la sequía y la inestabilidad general del clima.

TecnoPapa se perfila como un nuevo punto de encuentro para la cadena papera, con una propuesta práctica y a campo que busca acercar innovación, tecnología y conocimiento a productores y empresas.

La llegada del nuevo Gobierno colombiano genera expectativas entre los productores de Boyacá, quienes esperan medidas concretas para mejorar la rentabilidad, el financiamiento y las condiciones de producción del campo.

La Asociación Latinoamericana de la Papa (ALAP) define su agenda para el próximo congreso, a celebrarse el año que viene en Montevideo, Uruguay.