News on The Potato Supply Chain from the Russian Federation

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 'Lorch Potato Research Institute', an international industry event will be organized in Russia: 'Potato Industry 2020'

Together with its partners, Equipment Manufacturer Kiremko delivered and installed a complete potato processing line capable of producing a variety of pasteurized potato products.

Potato production in the Moscow Oblast in 2018 increased by 37% compared to the volumes of the previous year.

Today, the first Russian large-scale French fries production facility - built in Lipetsk by a Joint Venture of the Russian Belaya Dacha Group and Lamb Weston / Meijer - was officially opened

APH Group recently concluded a multi-million Euro contract with a Russian enterprise to deliver machines and installations for the organic production of potatoes and vegetables in open soil.

According to Russian media, a modern processing potato plant is planned to be built in the Arskii district of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan.

In Russia, potatoes have hit record high prices due to supplies being imported and a lack of vegetable storage.

According to a news item in Freshplaza,the German company Lorenz Snackworld is planning to build a potato processing plant in the Tula region (Russia)

A large potato storage as well as a chips processing plant are planned in Ingushetia (Russian Federation)

In a reversal of policy, the Russian government last week modified its prohibition on several types of food imports from the United States, Canada, the EU, and other Western countries to allow for the importation of seed potatoes.

Vladimir Putin has banned the import of agricultural goods from countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia in a tit-for-tat move that deepens the economic standoff between the Kremlin and the west.

Russia will start importing Dutch seed potatoes again, once a quality inspection has deemed them suitable. This could mean a 10 million euro export opportunity for companies.

The expectations were positive, but the doors to Russia are still closed for the European potato and seed potato sector.

Russia is a huge producer of potatoes and is the third largest potato producer in the world. In 2012, Russia produced 29.5 million metric tons of potatoes. Only 13% is produced by agricultural enterprises: 79% is produced by private households.

n September, Russia imported 15,259 tons of potatoes with a value of 5 million dollars.

Russia will have to import over 4 million tonnes of potato according to Agriculture Minister, Elena Skrynnik, following a pessimistic forecast of the drought impact on potato crops. Skrynnik said the drought would cause major potato losses.