Celebrating the Second International Day of Potato: Raising the Profile of the EU Potato Sector
On 27 May 2025, the heart of Brussels welcomed policymakers, supply chain actors, and researchers for the International Day of Potato, a special event dedicated to highlighting the importance of potatoes in Europe’s agri-food system.
Held at the Residence Palace, the event served as a platform to celebrate the potato’s contribution to food security, sustainability, and economic resilience across the continent.
The event brought together around 100 participants, including: retailers, wholesalers, and distributors, policymakers and regulatory authorities, EU-funded research projects and institutions.
The main goals were:
To celebrate the International Day of Potato at the European level
To inform EU policymakers about how the potato supply chain operates
To showcase innovative EU-funded potato research projects, like POMATO, and highlight their relevance to policy and practice
Speakers from across the potato sector and the EU policy landscape took the floor to:
Share insights on the complexities and strengths of the potato supply chain
Discuss the policy environment and upcoming regulations affecting potato production and trade
Explore how research and innovation, particularly through EU-funded initiatives, can contribute to sustainability, productivity, and consumer satisfaction
The event featured presentations from key stakeholders, emphasising the potato’s role as a nutritious, accessible, and climate-smart crop that deserves greater attention in European food and agricultural strategies.
POMATO project was promoted by Europatat, to raise awareness of ongoing research in potato breeding, sustainability, and market innovation.
The International Day of Potato is quickly becoming an essential date on the European agri-food calendar, both as a celebration and as a strategic opportunity to connect field-level realities with EU decision-making. With growing attention to sustainability and food systems, potatoes are poised to play an increasingly vital role in Europe’s future.
