Berlin, February 5, 2025 The evening of February 4 was entirely dedicated to the potato: For the 19th International Berlin Potato Evening, hosted by the German Potato Trade Association (DKHV), leading representatives of the European potato industry gathered in the festive ballroom of the Hilton Berlin at Gendarmenmarkt.
On the eve of Fruit Logistica, DKHV welcomed over 480 guests from 17 countries, including high-ranking personalities from associations, politics, science, and business, as well as representatives from more than 180 companies in the industry. A highlight of the evening was the presence of the Potato Queens Daniela I from Bavaria and Paula I from the Heide, who contributed to the success of the event with their charming presence.
DKHV President Thomas Herkenrath opened the evening with a welcome speech highlighting the importance of international and cross-border engagement in association work for the potato industry. He emphasized the necessity of European and global cooperation in research and science, such as in breeding suitable potato varieties for different regional conditions or in combating pathogens like late blight and the reed glass-winged cicada.
Herkenrath warned: ‘The increasing spread of the reed glass-winged cicada, which has rapidly spread in numerous cultivation areas in recent years, poses a significant threat to potato cultivation. This species of insect can transmit the stolbur pathogen and a proteobacterium, causing massive yield, quality, and storage losses up to total crop failures. In addition, the increasingly stringent political requirements in plant protection dramatically complicate the effective control of such pests.’
He urgently called for innovative solutions to ensure long-term food security in Germany and Europe. ‘It’s about nothing less than the future of potato cultivation in Germany and Europe and the preservation of regional economic cycles,’ Herkenrath said.
Furthermore, Herkenrath addressed current changes in global trade: ‘Although global trade continues to grow, it is increasingly difficult for many German companies to remain competitive in world trade. Especially the internationally declining competitiveness due to high production costs, driven by excessive bureaucracy, overregulation, documentation obligations, senseless certification mania, and sometimes excessive demands of some NGOs are putting more and more pressure on companies. In order for German and European potato trade to remain competitive in the future, we need stable and reliable framework conditions on the one hand and, on the other hand, the much-promised reduction of bureaucracy together with deregulation and harmonization of certification systems must be implemented quickly! The European potato is one of the safest, most sustainable, and climate-friendly agricultural products, yet it is unnecessarily expensive due to a multitude of costly legal and private certifications. This must finally come to an end without endangering our high health and consumer protection standards!’
DKHV therefore welcomes what it has long demanded: the increasing realization in politics that both the Green Deal and the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act have gone too far and are heavily burdening the economy. For the first time, there is an encouraging rethink in the German and European political landscape. We strongly demand that both bureaucratic burdens and regulatory hurdles be streamlined to finally relieve the German and European economies and promote free trade. However, mere statements of intent are not enough. The state cannot and should not solve every problem – an efficient, practical framework for the economy is the key to sustainable development.
Olaf Feuerborn, Chairman of the Union of German Potato Trade e.V. (UNIKA), echoed the opening address of the DKHV President in his welcoming speech. He also emphasized the necessary but already successful cooperation within the European potato industry and stressed the urgency of addressing the growing challenges, especially from pests like the reed glass-winged cicada.
The International Berlin Potato Evening of the DKHV was thus not only an evening of encounter and exchange but also sent a strong signal for the future viability and important role of the European potato industry.
The 20th International Berlin Potato Evening will take place on February 3, 2026, in new premises. Initial planning has already begun, and the venue promises a special ambiance. Further details will be announced soon on LinkedIn and the DKHV website.
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About DKHV e.V.
The German Potato Trade Association (DKHV) is an independent trade association representing the interests of approximately 170 potato trading companies, packers, peeling operations, as well as breeders, producers, and manufacturers of packaging materials or potato technology.
