News on Potato Cultivation from the Netherlands

Most potato farmers across the NEPG zone had a lot of luck during October and the beginning of November to finish harvesting, even though some of the harvesting was done in very difficult and expensive conditions.

PotatoEurope is an international event exclusively dedicated to the entire value chain of potatoes: from Farm to Fork! The event takes place each year in one of the event’s four partner countries: the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France.

Agrico's annual Variety and Seedling Show 2024 on November 7 and 8 will showcase their latest 'Next Generation' potato varieties, featuring enhanced disease resistance, yield potential, and sustainability.

On October 29, 2024, the General Meeting of Shareholders of Royal HZPC Group considered and adopted the 2023/2024 financial statements. The 2023 crop year was characterized in Europe by a late start due to high rainfall, followed by a hot and dry period.

Royal Avebe's starch potato campaign is in full swing. The initial results show good quality of the starch potatoes delivered. 

The organisation of the PotatoEurope, which will take place on September 3 and 4, 2025 at the Dutch location of Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Field Crops in Lelystad, can already speak of a flying start.

The 2024 growing season – with the main harvest not yet done – was a difficult, stressful, risky and expensive one for potato growers across the NEPG in North-west Europe. New challenges appear as climate change takes its toll.

Gerard Backx, CEO of the Royal HZPC Group, says there is an imbalance in the Dutch seed potato market. He expects less volume of these potatoes to be available this season. Although there is a good tuber count in many areas, and the harvest should be successful, the wet summer significantly damaged some areas.

Seed potato acreage is shrinking in the Netherlands, Germany, and France.

In season 2023, potato growers in North-western Europe were confronted with difficult weather conditions, a high disease pressure and rising costs.

In the Netherlands, the weather affected the potato harvest and raises many questions about the future of production in the country.

La sostenibilidad de las variedades de papa es el nuevo horizonte para los obtentores como HZPC.

Due to abundant rainfall, a lot of potatoes in North-western Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France) have not yet been harvested. The lifting period was too short to get the potatoes to the stores in good conditions.

After several meetings and visits to each other, a powerful collaboration has emerged. The Hybrid True Potato Seeds from Solynta and the plant raising facilities and skills from Agris are turning out to be a golden combination.

The Dutch company that has carried the seal of the crown since 2023 and has been renamed HZPC Royal Group, will receive clients, partners and friends for an event that will be held for the first time at the Metslawier station.

For financial year 2022/2023, potato breeder Royal HZPC Group B.V. reports substantial growth in sales. Gerard Backx, CEO Royal HZPC Group B.V., underlines that the important growth in volume, is mainly in Asia and America.

Here is a sneak peek into one of the many test fields Solynta is currently harvesting. They will be assessing the quality of the tubers, tuber size, dry matter composition, taste, robustness and many other important traits per variety.

The Netherlands' development as an agricultural country and retaining enough farmland. And ensuring potatoes remain in Dutch consumers' minds.