Potato News from the Netherlands

Agrico has opened a new potato research centre in the Netherlands. The facility will support faster breeding of disease-resistant, climate-resilient potato varieties, strengthening innovation and Dutch food security.

The Netherlands' ware potato harvest is expected to fall 17 percent to 3.5 million tonnes in 2026, according to Statistics Netherlands. Seed onion production is forecast to decline 15 percent, while sugar beet output is also expected to decrease.

HZPC Potato Days 2026 will take place November 4–6 in Joure, the Netherlands, showcasing potato varieties, breeding innovations and sustainable cultivation under the theme Growing Your Future.

Agrico will host its International Variety and Seedling Show in the Netherlands from November 4–6, showcasing new potato varieties, breeding innovations and global cooperation under the theme 'Varieties of Life.'

The Potato Variety Days 2026 e-book is now available for free ahead of the 4–6 November event in the Netherlands. It features participating companies, event details, new varieties and insights into potato breeding.

Solana Group Open Days 2026 will take place November 4–6 in Emmeloord, the Netherlands, bringing potato industry professionals together to explore innovations, exchange experiences and discuss future developments.

Twentebelt launches TwenteStack, a self-stacking spiral belt designed to reduce friction, mechanical wear and energy consumption. Compatible with existing OEM systems, the belt is available worldwide for new installations and retrofits.

VAVI has appointed Aviko’s Dick Zelhorst as its new chairman, succeeding Stephan van Kuik. He will focus on strengthening the Dutch potato processing industry, sustainability and sector competitiveness.

The Potato Company (TPC) will host its Potato Show from 4–6 November 2026 in Emmeloord, the Netherlands, showcasing new varieties and presenting the 2026 TPC Awards to breeders of Havana and Riva.

FrietHoes celebrates a major milestone as the first fries roll off the production line at its new factory in Nieuw-Vennep, the Netherlands, following months of construction, installation and preparation.

Royal HZPC Group researches the nutrient needs of potato varieties to develop tailored fertilization recommendations. This aims to improve yield and quality while reducing fertilizer use and environmental impact through data-driven insights.

Sormac has appointed Tys van Elk as its new Managing Director, effective December 31, 2026, succeeding Bert Haffmans after more than 23 years of leadership. Haffmans will remain involved as an advisor and shareholder.

Royal HZPC Group has patented a potato innovation with increased levels of natural antioxidants, particularly kaempferol, while retaining traditional flesh colour. The development could benefit both fresh and processed potato markets.

Agrico's Michel de Bruin says strong potato sectors need more than quality seed, highlighting the importance of farmer knowledge, functioning markets, enabling regulations and flexible approaches tailored to local conditions.

The Dutch Potato Organisation celebrated Potato Tuesday on October 6 at Utrecht Central Station during the Week of Our Food. Visitors can enjoy free recipe booklets and discover the people behind the Dutch potato industry.

Ellips’ Elisam CombiGrader grades potatoes and onions on one compact line, switching between crops within seconds. True-AI and light transmittance technology detect internal and external defects at up to 15 t/h, with a 15-meter footprint.

Croptimal has launched the tractor-mounted Croptiscan 3000, using camera and recognition technology to detect PVY and leaf roll early in seed potato crops, providing smaller growers with an alternative to fully self-driving machines.

The new QualityGrader builds on years of experience with hundreds of machines worldwide. With improved flexibility, capacity, serviceability and AI sorting, it delivers smarter optical quality control for today’s and tomorrow’s needs.