Preparations are nearly complete for PotatoEurope 2025, the leading international event for the potato sector, which will take place on 3 and 4 September at Wageningen University & Research’s (WUR) Field Crops site in Lelystad.

According to organiser Kuno Jacobs, more than 300 exhibitors will be present, with visitors already registered from 119 countries. The 25-hectare demonstration field is ready, with tents and infrastructure in place.

Trial harvest confirms strong yields
Ahead of the event, Jacob de Jong, field manager at WUR in Lelystad, carried out a trial harvest of the Alegria variety. The trial produced a yield of 60 tonnes per hectare with a favourable size distribution. The majority of tubers were marketable, including 34.9% in the 65–70 mm size category and 26.2% above 70 mm. The harvested potatoes are destined for Schaap Holland in Biddinghuizen.

Two international conferences
On 3 September, WUR will host a conference on Integrated Crop Management (ICM), focusing on themes such as crop diversity, suitable varieties, soil and nutrient management, crop protection, and monitoring and evaluation. The following day, PotatoEurope, Europatat and World Potato Markets will jointly organise a conference titled Europe’s Position in a Changing Potato World, examining market- and business-oriented themes.

Live demonstrations across the value chain
PotatoEurope is recognised for its large-scale demonstrations in practice. Harvesters from Agri-Poppe, AVR, Dewulf, Grimme and Ropa will operate on site, supported by Case-IH tractors. Transport will be provided by trailers from Beco, Brettmeister, Joskin, Van Ginkel Machines and Krampe.

Visitors will see storage lines from AVR, Bijlsma Hercules, Dewulf, Grimme, Spinnekop and Visser; box filling solutions from AVR, Dewulf, Grimme, Mechatec, VHM Machinery and Wevano Machinery; and optical sorting technology from Flikweert Vision, MecSistem, TechNature, Tomra Food, Visar Sorting and Wevano Machinery. Haulm pulling demonstrations will be conducted by Andela, Kloppenburg and Vegniek.

Innovation on display in test fields
The event also features trial plots highlighting the latest developments in potato cultivation, including variety breeding, fertilisation, crop protection and sustainable growing practices. Companies participating include Soiltech, Certis Belchim, Solana, Nufarm, Kreglinger Europe, HZPC, BASF, Restrain, Agrico, Schaap Holland B.V., Corteva, Bayer CropScience, STET Holland, Averis and Bionext.

Catalogue and press invitation
The full catalogue, including participant details, demonstrations and floor plans, is now available online. The organisers invite members of the press to attend PotatoEurope 2025, with opportunities to meet exhibitors, growers, researchers and policymakers, and to follow innovations in the sector up close.

PotatoEurope 2025 runs on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 September from 09:00 to 18:00 at WUR Field Crops, Edelhertweg 1, Lelystad. Further details are available at www.potatoeurope.nl