A new UK potato industry event is set to launch in Lincolnshire this November, with organisers positioning the county as a natural venue for a gathering aimed at growers, processors, suppliers and researchers across the sector.

British Potato Confex 2026 will take place at the Lincolnshire Showground on 18-19 November 2026, according to the official event website, which describes the show as a new format intended to keep the industry connected in the years between the established British Potato Industry Event in Harrogate.

The event is being presented as a combined conference and exhibition, with keynote speakers, workshops, breakout discussions, commercial slots, exhibition space and networking opportunities. Organisers say the format is designed to be smaller and more targeted, with an emphasis on practical engagement across the potato supply chain. Lincolnshire’s role in UK food production gives added context to the choice of venue. Business Lincolnshire says Greater Lincolnshire produces over 30% of England’s vegetables, underlining the region’s broader importance in fresh produce and food supply infrastructure. That wider agricultural weight matters for potatoes too. Defra’s Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2024 shows total UK potato production reached 4.634 million tonnes in 2024, up from 4.092 million tonnes in 2023, while the UK potato area stood at 118,000 hectares in 2024. Defra’s separate land-use release for 2025 shows England accounted for 90,000 hectares of potatoes out of 127,000 hectares across the UK, confirming that England remains the dominant producing nation within the British potato sector.

In a statement supplied with the announcement, Stephanie Cornwall, editor of British Potato Review, said: “Lincolnshire sits at the heart of Britain’s food production and potatoes remain one of the county’s most important crops.”

She added: “Hosting British Potato Confex in Lincolnshire recognises the county’s national importance and brings together key stakeholders from across the UK to share knowledge, discuss the future of the sector, and showcase the strength of British agriculture.”

The launch also reflects a continuing shift in specialist agricultural events towards more focused, content-led formats. Rather than a traditional large-scale trade fair alone, British Potato Confex is being positioned as a hybrid event that combines exhibition, technical sessions and structured networking in a more compact setting.

For the UK potato industry, the timing is notable. The sector continues to operate against a backdrop of production pressure, cost volatility, evolving agronomy demands and growing interest in innovation across crop management, storage, grading, logistics and processing. A dedicated event designed to connect different parts of the value chain may therefore find a receptive audience, particularly in a region already deeply embedded in the UK’s food and fresh produce economy.