Expert Jury Announced for PotatoEurope 2025 Innovation Award
The organizers of PotatoEurope 2025 have officially announced the members of the expert jury for the upcoming PotatoEurope Innovation Award, a highlight of this year’s trade fair set to take place on 3–4 September at the Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Open Crops location in Lelystad, the Netherlands. The award recognizes breakthrough developments that advance sustainability and efficiency across the potato supply chain.
The professional jury brings together a diverse mix of research, policy, industry, and editorial expertise. It includes Johan Warringa, Business Unit Manager at WUR Open Crops; Jan Gottschall, Policy Officer at the Dutch Potato Organization (NAO); Rob Donker, Director of the National Cooperative Council and Chairman of the AgrofoodCluster; Roger de Groot, Mayor of Noordoostpolder, home to World Potato City Emmeloord; and Jaap Delleman, Editor-in-Chief of PotatoWorld magazine.
Each jury member will contribute a unique perspective to the selection process. Warringa will evaluate entries from a research and cultivation standpoint, while Donker will assess industry collaboration and innovation impact. Gottschall will bring a market-oriented view representing the Dutch trade in seed and consumption potatoes. Mayor de Groot, who will serve as jury chairman, emphasizes the strategic importance of Emmeloord’s innovation ecosystem. Delleman rounds out the jury with an international and journalistic outlook.
“Innovation is essential for the future of the potato sector,” said Roger de Groot. “Within World Potato City, we strongly focus on progress and collaboration. The PotatoEurope Innovation Award provides a platform for the latest advancements that will drive the sector forward.”
This aligns with the fair’s 2025 theme: Innovate, Network, Grow. The jury will select three finalists whose products or services represent the most forward-thinking contributions to the sector. Bronze, silver, and gold prizes will be awarded during the opening event on 3 September. Entries for the competition are open until 16 June via the official event website: https://potatoeurope.nl/innovation-award.
Interest in this year’s edition of PotatoEurope is exceeding expectations. Organizers have reported that exhibition space is nearly sold out, with a strong mix of returning participants and new exhibitors from across the international potato value chain.
“The well-known elements of the event, such as machinery demonstrations, trial fields, and the Innovation Award, continue to be major attractions,” said Kuno Jacobs of DLG Benelux, the event’s organizer. “Once again, we see strong interest from both national and international players in the potato supply chain.”
PotatoEurope 2025 is expected to serve as a strategic platform for technology developers, growers, processors, and suppliers to exchange ideas and solutions in a dynamic agricultural environment.
