News on Food Trends

PoLoPo, a B2B deeptech firm, is shifting focus to the snack industry. It's patented potato offers up to three more protein than regular tubers, enabling high-protein chips with great taste and texture for brands and food manufacturers.

Potatoes top the charts as America's favorite veggie for the 9th year, per the 2025 Consumer Attitudes & Usage study. With 81% eating them weekly, belief in their nutrition and value as performance fuel is at an all-time high.

Gov. Mills and UMaine leaders reopened the modernized Aroostook Farm after a USD 3 Million upgrade, boosting Maine’s potato research with advanced tech to speed new variety development like the Caribou Russet, supporting jobs and the agri-economy.

After years of effort, the USDA has officially deregulated a 120-acre field near Shelley, Idaho, from the state's pale cyst nematode (PCN) quarantine program, marking a major milestone in the fight against this potato pest.

Aberystwyth University leads a cross-border AI project to combat potato late blight, a disease causing €4B in losses annually. The DeepDetect app will help farmers detect infections early, cutting pesticide use and boosting sustainable farming.

Lawmakers toured Aroostook County to explore Maine’s potato industry, seeing innovative tech and learning how policy affects farming. The trip aimed to boost understanding of agricultural challenges and support.

The European Investment Bank has signed a EUR 20 million venture debt financing agreement with Dutch biotechnology company Solynta, to accelerate the development of potato varieties with enhanced resistance to disease and resilience to climate change

PotatoEurope 2025, set for 3–4 Sept in Lelystad, Netherlands, showcases live machinery demos, smart agri-tech, and innovations in potato farming. With 300+ exhibitors and 15,000 visitors, it’s the premier hub to innovate, network, and grow.

A proposed class action lawsuit claims that The Campbell’s Company has misled consumers by marketing Cape Cod potato chips as free from preservatives, given that the snacks contain the common food additive citric acid.

Russian researchers unveil a new, low-cost method to grow potatoes at home, addressing rising prices and shortages. The innovation enables indoor cultivation without special equipment, offering a timely solution to the nation's potato crisis.

Joseph Ifeanyi Ulasi leads a groundbreaking project to boost late blight resistance in diploid potatoes by introgressing novel Rpi genes from wild species. Using Solanum verrucosum as a genetic bridge, he advances resilient breeding for future crops.

Bem Brasil optimized logistics with Mecalux automation, boosting frozen food storage to 550,000+ tons/year. Two new warehouses improved efficiency, traceability, and cut waste.

Simplot plans to acquire Belgium-based Clarebout Potatoes, uniting two family-owned frozen potato leaders. The move aims to boost European market presence and sustainability, with operations continuing and expanding across 23 global sites.

The 13th World Potato Congress will be held in Naivasha, Kenya, from October 26–30, 2026—the first in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hosted by NPCK and FreshCrop Ltd, the event will spotlight global potato innovations, food security, and trade.

The Ferrero Group and WK Kellogg Co has announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Ferrero has agreed to acquire WK Kellogg Co, for USD 23.00 per share in cash, representing a total enterprise value of USD 3.1 billion.

HyFun Foods celebrates World French Fries Day by spotlighting Indian farmers and its global potato exports, showcasing innovation, sustainability, and farmer-first growth from Gujarat to 40+ countries.

Ahead of National French Fry Day, McCain Foods found Americans eat over 17 pounds of fries yearly—Virginia leads at 21. Crispy-outside, soft-inside is the top texture. Fry types, seasonings, and dips vary, but 63% say fries can be a main dish.

After a near-fatal accident at his remote home, Graham Bannister stresses the importance of emergency preparedness, rural connectivity, and using tools like satellite calling and What3words to stay safe while working alone in isolated areas.