PotatoEurope 2025 in Lelystad Draws Record 17,268 Visitors from 107 Countries

The international potato community gathered in Lelystad on 3 and 4 September 2025 for an extraordinary edition of PotatoEurope, setting new records and showcasing the future of the global potato sector. With an impressive 17,268 visitors from 107 countries, this year’s event confirmed its reputation as the world’s leading platform for innovation, networking, and knowledge exchange within the potato industry.

The event was held on the grounds of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Field Crops, transforming Lelystad into a bustling hub of activity where breeders, growers, machinery manufacturers, researchers, policymakers, and buyers came together to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of potatoes worldwide.

Kuno Jacobs, Managing Director of DLG Benelux:

"We were delighted to welcome a record number of visitors and to see the entire chain come together. It is unique that so many professionals from so many countries gather in one place. PotatoEurope 2025 clearly showed that the potato world knows how to connect, despite the challenges. The atmosphere was optimistic, and interest in new technologies and innovations was greater than ever."

Live Demonstrations on 25 Hectares of Alegria Fields

The heart of PotatoEurope 2025 was the 25-hectare demo field planted with the Alegria variety, where leading manufacturers demonstrated cutting-edge technologies from harvesting to box filling and optical sorting.

Harvests were carried out under ideal weather conditions, giving visitors a live look at how advanced machinery and modern techniques optimize potato production. Thousands of visitors gathered to witness the demonstrations, making it one of the most popular attractions at the event.

Live demonstrations on the 25-hectare Alegria demo fields highlighted cutting-edge harvesting technologies under ideal weather conditions.

A particular highlight was the live optical sorting demonstration, where state-of-the-art machines showcased their ability to identify, grade, and sort potatoes with precision and speed, illustrating how automation and AI are reshaping the sector. 

The trial plots also drew significant attention, presenting innovations in varietal development, fertilization strategies, and crop protection techniques. These showcases highlighted the strong link between scientific research and practical, on-farm applications, setting a new benchmark for future editions.

Innovation Award Celebrates Breakthrough Technologies

A highlight was the presentation of the Innovation Award, which took place immediately after the official opening of the exhibition by the Kings Commissioner in Flevoland Arjen Gerritsen, Janine Luten (NAO), and Richard Harrison (WUR). 

The first prize was awarded to Croptimal for the development of the Croptiscan 9000. This selection robot, equipped with advanced cameras and artificial intelligence, detects diseases such as Y virus, leafroll, and bacterial infections directly in the field and helps remove infected plants with great precision. According to the jury, this is an innovation the sector has been waiting for: practical, immediately applicable, and with a major impact on sustainability and efficiency. Croptimal expects to deliver the first machines in 2026 and is already seeing international interest.

The Croptimal team celebrates winning the PotatoEurope 2025 Innovation Award for their Croptiscan 9000, a groundbreaking field robot that detects potato diseases with AI-driven precision.

Second prize went to BioScout, which, together with WUR, developed a smart spore trap to detect phytophthora spores in real time. Third prize was awarded to Maxstim Ltd. for introducing Maxstim Furrow Treatment, a biostimulant applied during planting. 

Knowledge-Sharing Conferences Drive Collaboration

Beyond the fields and machinery, PotatoEurope 2025 also served as a vital knowledge-sharing platform through a series of international conferences organized by Wageningen University & Research and industry partners.

• Integrated Crop Management: The Future of Potato Farming This technical conference focused on essential themes such as crop diversity, soil management, targeted crop protection, and strategies to enhance sustainability and efficiency in potato production.
• Europe’s Position in a Changing Potato World A business and market: Oriented conference that explored global trade dynamics, Europe’s role in the international potato market, and strategies to stay competitive amid evolving challenges.

Both events offered valuable opportunities for networking, collaboration, and idea exchange, equipping industry leaders with insights to navigate an increasingly complex agricultural landscape.

Global Gathering and Industry Partnerships

PotatoEurope 2025 brought together the entire potato supply chain under one roof. From breeders and growers to machine builders and policymakers, participants engaged in meaningful discussions and collaborations to address shared challenges.

The exhibition area at PotatoEurope 2025 provided networking opportunities across the entire potato value chain.

Case IH, as the event’s tractor sponsor, provided crucial equipment for the live demonstrations, symbolizing the importance of collaboration across different sectors of the industry.

The event fostered an optimistic atmosphere, reinforcing the potato sector’s ability to adapt and innovate even in the face of global pressures such as climate change, market fluctuations, and food security concerns.

Kuno Jacobs:

"With so many countries and companies gathered in one place, PotatoEurope 2025 demonstrated that the future of the potato is being shaped worldwide – innovative, sustainable, and connected."

A Resounding Success and Looking to the Future

As the two-day event came to a close, PotatoEurope 2025 was hailed as a record-breaking success, demonstrating the vitality and global importance of the potato sector.

International conferences and company showcases drew thousands of visitors, fostering collaboration across the global potato industry.

The next edition of PotatoEurope will take place on 9 and 10 September 2026 in Germany, where the international potato community will once again unite to push the boundaries of innovation and sustainability.