News on Food Trends from Europe

Jason O’Leary, a potato grower from Blackwater, Co. Wexford, has been elected Chair of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Potato Committee, which represents potato growers within Ireland’s largest farming organisation.

Germany’s potato industry calls for urgent research and coordinated measures against the spreading reed glasswinged leafhopper to protect cultivation, jobs, and regional economic strength.

Samuel Schär assumed office as CEO of Bühler Group on January 1, 2026, succeeding Stefan Scheiber. His appointment ensures continuity and stability as Bühler advances sustainable solutions for the food, feed, and mobility industries worldwide.

Scientists decoded a haplotype-resolved potato genome and GWAS of 141 accessions, identifying StTST2, a tonoplast sugar transporter. StTST2 boosts photosynthesis, sugar accumulation, source–sink transport, and tuber yield via interaction with SUT2.

DLG Benelux has officially changed its name to DLG Markets Benelux, effective immediately. The rebranding aligns with DLG International’s transition to DLG Markets and reinforces the organization’s focus on serving global and regional agri-food markets.1

Fruit Logistica 2026 (4–6 Feb, Berlin) brings the global fresh fruit industry together with six expert stages, 200 speakers and multilingual talks, covering markets, farming, technology, logistics and future innovation.

Royal Cosun advances sustainability through regional and national deals. Limburg sites cut 30,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, while a €73 (USD 85.6m) state agreement delivers a 167 kt CO₂ reduction by 2030, plus major nitrogen and ammonia cuts.

Agricultores y ganaderos de Castilla y León, junto a miles de productores europeos, protestarán en Bruselas para exigir un presupuesto agrícola justo y evitar los fuertes recortes propuestos para la PAC 2028–2034, que consideran una amenaza para el campo y para los consumidores.

Troostwijk Auctions launches six online auctions (18 Dec–15 Jan) to sell the full industrial assets of bankrupt Dutch potato processor CêlaVíta, offering high-quality potato processing, packaging and labelling machinery from leading brands.

Dutch arable farming plays an important role in national food security. Members of Parliament were able to experience this firsthand on Wednesday 3 December.

Castilla y León, líder español en producción de patata, enfrenta el desafío de mantener su regadío basado en aguas subterráneas bajo nuevas exigencias de sostenibilidad marcadas por la Unión Europea.

The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 124.3 points in December 2025, down 0.8 points (0.6 percent) from November, as declines in the price indices for dairy products, meat and vegetable oils more than offset increases in cereals and sugar.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 125.1 points in November 2025, down 1.2 percent from October and marking a third consecutive monthly decline. Lower prices for dairy products, meat, sugar and vegetable oils outweighed an increase in the cereal index.

SACAPP’s 2026 conference returns to Dundee on February 5, bringing UK growers together to explore innovation, data-driven production, water resilience and new uses for potato waste, with speakers from Japan, Orkney and Scotland’s plant health leadership.

Lamb Weston, HAI, Radboud University and ISPT are advancing potato processing with AI and hyperspectral imaging to boost quality, reduce waste and improve efficiency. Lamb Weston experts say the technology enables consistent supply and faster, deeper quality predictions.

Las importaciones españolas de frutas y hortalizas frescas siguieron creciendo entre enero y septiembre de 2025, con un alza del 6% en volumen y del 13% en valor. La patata se mantuvo como el producto más importado.

FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026 (4–6 Feb, Berlin) gathers the global fresh produce industry for innovation, networking, and market insights. With 2,500+ exhibitors, expert forums, tech showcases, and the 20th Innovation Award, it drives the future of fresh produce.

Max Koeune, CEO of McCain Foods, joins The Consumer Goods Forum as Co-Chair alongside Tesco’s Ken Murphy, driving global collaboration and innovation. McCain continues its leadership in sustainability, food waste, and industry partnerships.