Tomorrow marks the opening of PotatoEurope 2026, held for the first time at a fixed venue—Springe near Hanover (Rittergut Gestorf 1)—on 9–10 September. Breaking a two-decade tradition of rotating between Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium, this year’s edition settles on German soil, drawing approximately 290 exhibitors, up from 251 at the previous German-hosted event. Running concurrently on the same grounds is SugarBeet Expo, a logical pairing given that many farms cultivate both crops. The field-show format remains intact, with live machinery demonstrations and trial plots taking center stage.
The program heavily emphasizes electronics and artificial intelligence in agricultural machinery, alternatives to traditional seed-tuber propagation, optoelectronics in sorting systems, and broader digitalization and automation trends. With a permanent site now secured, organizers aim to strengthen the event’s identity and attract even more international participation in future years. The co-location with SugarBeet Expo also offers cross-sector synergies, making the combined venue a comprehensive hub for root-crop professionals.