Europe: Seed Potato Area in Six Key Regions Falls 1.6% to 105,155 ha as Fry Varieties Lose 8.4%
ESPG data show that seed potato multiplication in the Netherlands, France, Germany, Scotland, Belgium and Denmark covers 105,155 ha in 2026. Belgium and Scotland cut the most, and French fry varieties lost 1,338 ha.
Europe will have slightly less seed potato area for the 2027 planting season. According to data from the European Seed Potato Growers group (ESPG), compiled by the French seed potato federation FN3PT, the multiplication area in six major regions is 105,155 ha in 2026. This is 1,710 ha, or 1.6%, less than in 2025. PotatoPro published the figures, and Potato News Today analysed them on 29 September.
Area by country
- Netherlands: 40,811 ha, down 0.70%
- France: 23,825 ha, down 2.27%
- Germany: 20,540 ha, up 0.44%
- Scotland: down 5.39%
- Belgium: down 11.97%
- Denmark: down 0.94%
The Netherlands, France and Germany together account for 81% of the total area. Belgium made the largest cut in percentage terms, and Scotland was second.
Fewer fry varieties
The ten most-planted varieties cover 32,201 ha, or 31% of the total area. Within this group, four French fry varieties lost a combined 1,338 ha, a fall of 8.4%. Two varieties for processing and export lost 237 ha (3.8%). Export varieties were almost unchanged, at +0.01%.
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The cut in fry varieties follows the 2025 season, when record ware potato crops and very low free-market prices hit processing growers. Many growers planted fewer ware potatoes in spring 2026, and seed producers reduced the area of the varieties that the fry industry uses most.
Quality checks
Potato News Today also cited the Dutch inspection service NAK. By 10 August 2026, NAK had downgraded 9.2% of seed area during field inspection and rejected 0.7%. Bacterial diseases caused 54% of the problems and mosaic symptoms 34%.
Why it matters
Seed from these six regions supplies ware growers across Europe and in many export markets outside Europe. A smaller area, a hot summer and more downgrading can mean less seed of the preferred sizes and classes for 2027.
The cut in French fry varieties is important for processors. After the small 2026 ware crop, many processors will want more contract area in 2027. They may find that seed of their main varieties is tighter than in recent years. Growers who plan to expand fry potatoes should book seed early.
Photo: Potato rows in a field in spring (illustrative). Richard Humphrey / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
