News on The Potato Supply Chain from the Americas

The International Potato Center (CIP) has announced that Dr. Hugo Campos, Deputy Director General for Science and Innovation of CIP, has been selected as a 2025 Top Agri-Food Pioneer (TAP) by the World Food Prize Foundation.

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.

A la ya delicada situación del departamento de Nariño debido a los costos, el contrabando y la sobre oferta se le suman ahora problemas fitosanitarios capaces de generar grandes perdidas.

Una de las historias de éxito más notables en el mundo de la patata donde la visión, el trabajo y la integración vertical convirtieron a una empresa agrícola en un titan de la agroindustria.

The WPC congratulates Julio Kalazich, as he makes the transition from WPC International Advisor to WPC Director. New International Advisors are welcomed to the World Potato Congress Inc.

En la región de Nariño, frontera con Ecuador, la crisis de los productores es total. El contrabando, la sobre oferta, los costos, todo conspira para el debacle de la producción. Se reclama respaldo y protección.

El aumento de la oferta en los principales mercados ha hecho que los precios de la variedad Agata bajen. Se espera que conforme siga avanzando la cosecha, la tendencia a la baja en los precios se mantenga.

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.

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.

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.

Si bien las exportaciones de semilla aumentaron mucho entre 2024 y 2025, el resultado de los negocios no fue bueno en todos los destinos. En el caso de Uruguay, la presencia del virus PVY fue altísima.

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.

WPC Inc. announces leadership changes: Nora Olsen, Jang Sangha, and Martin Acosta retire, with Greg Donald named Vice President and Brian Douglas appointed Treasurer as preparations begin for the 2026 Congress in Kenya.

United States seed potato exports grew strongly in the Americas, with new markets in Panama, Nicaragua, and Uruguay. Potatoes USA trials expand reach in Cuba, Honduras, and the Caribbean, while new export opportunities emerge in West Africa.

Dr. Neeraj Sharma has been appointed as CIP's Country Manager for India, effective June 9, 2025. A veteran in potato R&D, he will lead strategy, partnerships, and operations to boost sustainable agriculture and food security in India.

P.E.I. launches a buy-back program for potato wart index fields to combat the fungal disease. It aids farmers, protects land, and boosts trade, with over USD 40M spent since 2021 on wart control efforts.

With a focus on Making Fries and Making Strides, Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. issued its annual Global Sustainability Report, providing updates on the company’s performance against key sustainability and people initiatives during its fiscal year 2024.

De 300 a 600 hectares cultivadas para abastecer de papa nacional a todos los paraguayos y así reducir la dependencia regional en materia alimentaria.