News on The Potato Supply Chain from France

Agristo is investing €350 million (USD 405 million) in a new Hauts-de-France potato processing site, its second-largest facility. Located 120 km from Belgium, the project will create 300 jobs and strengthen its French market presence.

Mousline faced a difficult 2025 with lower sales, crop problems, and lost contracts. The French brand is investing €14 million (USD 16.2 million), expanding exports, innovating products, and launching plant-based spreads to drive recovery.

Following a record 2025 potato crop of 8.6mn tonnes, France's potato sector is coordinating the transition to the 2026 harvest by reducing surplus stocks, ending promotions for the previous harvest and creating retail space for new potatoes.

Noirmoutier’s famous Bonnotte early potato faces a challenging season after heavy winter rains disrupted planting. Climate change also threatens production, but its distinctive nutty flavor continues to attract consumers.

European farmers are protesting over falling prices caused by a large harvest, reduced demand for frozen French fries following U.S. tariffs, and rising competition from countries such as China and India, putting profitability at risk and potentially reducing planting areas.

Los agricultores galos se encuentran en alerta tras el recorte a los precios de los contratos de producción para industria los cuales trasladan más riesgos a su operativa.

Agricultores franceses protestaron contra el acuerdo UE–Mercosur arrojando toneladas de patatas frente al Parlamento, denunciando competencia desleal y exigiendo mayores salvaguardas para proteger a la agricultura europea.

Seed potato areas in Western Europe reached 106,864 ha in 2025, up 9,297 ha (+9.53%) from 2024. Netherlands, France and Germany account for 80%. Growth is led by processing and export varieties, confirming their strategic role.

Agricultor 'regaló' 50 toneladas de patatas. El caso expuso tensiones con la empresa McCain, y refleja el creciente malestar de los productores y la incertidumbre sobre el futuro agrícola.

Entusiasmo a la hora de la siembra combinado con una desaceleración en las ventas de las papas prefritas congeladas en los mercados globales, pone a Europa en una posición delicada.

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.

Europatat held its annual General Assembly meeting June 12 in Lille (France). Members have elected a new Board to lead the association for the coming year and welcome Francisco Moya as Treasurer.

Fedepom and Europatat have unveiled the final program and speaker lineup for the Europatat Congress 2025, set for 11–13 June at Hôtel Barrière in Lille, France, under the theme 'Potato leaders of the future: deciding under uncertainty.'

Europatat warmly welcomes Elorn Plants, a specialist of seed potatoes production and sale based in Finistère, in western Brittany (France). The region is known worldwide for the quality of its seed potato production and the earliness of its shipments.

The UNPT welcomes the announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, during the presentation of the new PSN (National Strategic Plan), of the update of the government support for the production of starch potatoes, increasing from €83/ha in 2024, to €173/ha in 2025-26

AXEMA has decided to reinvent the agricultural professionals' trade fair to better meet the challenges of large-scale crops, mixed farming and livestock farming, and specialized open-field crops.

Grandes jugadores están invirtiendo en desarrollos industriales en Francia. Los productores de patatas deberán estar a la altura de la circunstancias para cumplir con la creciente demanda de materia prima.