The German Potato Trade Association (Deutscher Kartoffelhandelsverband, DKHV) will host the 72nd International Autumn Potato Exchange on 23 September at the Elbkuppel in the Hotel Hafen Hamburg. The long-standing industry gathering will this year place transport and logistics at the centre of discussions.

Following welcome remarks from DKHV President Thomas Herkenrath and appearances by the reigning Potato Queens Paula I (Heide) and Elena I (Bavaria), the programme will feature a panel debate under the title “Transport in Transition – Challenges and Opportunities for the Potato Industry.”

The discussion will address issues such as rising energy prices, climate targets, the condition of transport infrastructure, and the potential of digital technologies. Panelists include Cees Butter of BALD Logistics, who will contribute the perspective of an international freight forwarder, and Prof. Dr. Hanno Friedrich of Kühne Logistics University (KLU) Hamburg, who will provide insights from current research.

The event is designed to foster an exchange between practitioners, academics and policymakers, with contributions ranging from practical case studies to strategic outlooks. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage directly in the discussion before the evening concludes with networking.

The Elbkuppel setting provides a distinctive backdrop, combining a professional programme with opportunities for personal encounters, underlining the balance of tradition and forward-looking themes that characterise the sector.