Madrid Potato Symposium: Europe’s Sector Weighs Climate, Plant Health and a Small 2026 Crop
About 250 professionals met at the first International Potato Symposium in Madrid on 5 October as Northwest Europe faces a drought-hit 2026 potato crop.
Around 250 European potato professionals gathered in Madrid on 5 October for the first International Potato Symposium. Climate pressure, plant health, a shrinking crop protection toolbox and processors’ struggle to secure quality raw material dominated the agenda, in a season when Northwest Europe’s crop is expected to be unusually small.
The symposium was organised by the Spanish fruit and vegetable exporters’ federation FEPEX together with the Fruit Attraction trade fair and Europatat, and took place ahead of Fruit Attraction 2026, where the potato was the fair’s “Star Product”. PotatoPro published a summary of the event on 11 October.
Key messages from the sector
- Production and trade. Europatat president Peter Ton pointed to climate change, plant health pressures, water availability and rising costs, and stressed the need for a well-functioning EU Single Market and workable regulation.
- Processing. Nuria Moreno of the European potato processors’ association EUPPA highlighted difficulties in securing high-quality raw material, higher production costs and global competition, as well as the importance of sustainability and cooperation with growers.
- Plant health. Romans Vorss called for early detection, prevention and coordinated responses to phytosanitary threats, citing the PATAFEST and POMATO research programmes.
- Innovation. CropLife Europe discussed the challenge of maintaining an effective crop protection toolbox, while Corteva presented biological solutions to improve nutrient-use efficiency.
A closing round table focused on the Spanish potato sector. Europatat Director General Berta Redondo called for closer coordination across the value chain and a single European voice in policy debates.
Background: a small crop in Northwest Europe
The meeting came against the backdrop of a difficult season. An analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), published in September, estimated that summer heat and drought could cut the 2026 harvest in Belgium, Germany, France and the Netherlands by about 3.1 million tonnes, with yields 7–21% below the five-year average. Planted area in these countries was also reduced after the record 2025 crop. Industry estimates cited in the analysis put 2026 output at 19.5–20.5 million tonnes, and World Potato Markets suggested the crop could be the smallest on record.
