With “Potato Days UK,” the German Agricultural Society (DLG) brings to the British spud industry its “Potato Days” event series, which is focused on the product’s value chain.

AVR, Dewulf, GRIMME UK, McCain, the University of Lincoln, UK Food Valley, the network for innovation in the food industry, Dyson Farming, the GB Potatoes organization – the British umbrella organization for the potato industry -, and DLG will organize the open-air trade fair, which will make its debut at Nocton Farm in Nocton, Lincolnshire, UK, on September 4-5, 2024.

Dyson Farming, one of the biggest and most creative farming enterprises in the UK, is the owner of the Nocton Farm venue. Potato Days UK will take place on 20 hectares of land in the center of the British potato heartland, courtesy of Dyson Farming. In addition to providing trial plots, the open-air trade show will showcase creative approaches to potato cultivation and processing through exhibits and live demonstrations.

“We are meeting the high demand of the U.K. potato industry for more practical information in the field and we are therefore pleased to be bringing DLG’s Potato Days to Lincolnshire in the U.K. Nocton Farm is the ideal location for Potato Days U.K. as it is easily accessible for potato industry professionals from the U.K. and Ireland. The farm also provides an excellent platform for innovative and science-based crop production. We are delighted to be working with leading companies and institutions in the British potato industry and we are convinced that Potato Days UK will be the starting signal for a successful new trade event,” Dr. Lars Huf, Project manager of ‘Potato Days UK’, DLG, mentioned.

U.K.: An Important Location for the Potato Industry

After Germany, France, and the Netherlands, the U.K. is the fourth-largest potato-growing region in Western Europe, with a cultivated area of 137,000 hectares and an annual yield of around 5.5m tons. The main target audience for Potato Days UK is the upstream and downstream industries, as well as British and Irish potato producers.

“Exhibitors from the entire value chain for the potato industry will be presenting their specialized machinery, concepts, equipment, services, and solutions at ‘Potato Days UK’. Crop production professionals are expected to use the new platform to obtain in-depth information on varieties and seeds, production and processing technology, management issues, and fertilization and crop protection strategies,” a recent press release reveals.

‘Potato Days UK’ focuses mainly on agricultural innovation, research, and machinery. On both event days, there will be presentations and networking opportunities in the corresponding technical program. In addition to solutions for handling, packing, and processing, exhibitors will showcase equipment for cultivating, harvesting, and storing potatoes.

“Companies from the fields of research and consultancy will be showcasing forward-looking concepts. ‘Potato Days UK’ offers potato marketers and traders, seed growers, and the input industry the opportunity to present their services and innovations to trade fair visitors. Interested plant cultivation professionals can visit Potato Days UK free of charge when registering in advance,” the DLG experts added.

PotatoEurope takes place annually, alternating between four countries, Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The event covers potato cultivation and processing and is on display at this special event with trial fields and machinery demonstrations.