THE 2025 edition of PotatoEurope, which took place in Lelystad in the Netherlands recently, attracted 17,268 visitors from 107 countries.
Held at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Field Crops, the event’s exhibitors and visitors were drawn from all sectors of the global potato chain, including machinery manufacturers, growers, breeders, buyers and policymakers.
Kuno Jacobs, Managing Director of DLG Benelux, which organised the event, said: “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.”
Harvested under perfect conditions by manufacturers then stored and sorted using modern techniques, the 25-hectare harvest field with the Alegria variety demonstrated how technology and practice go hand in hand. Demonstrations – from harvesting to box filling and optical sorting – attracted thousands of visitors. A new highlight was the live demonstration of optical sorting technology, which drew considerable interest. The trial fields were also in the spotlight, showcasing innovations in varieties, fertilisation and crop protection.
Another 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. Judges said the innovation was practical, immediately applicable, and had a major impact on sustainability and efficiency. Croptimal expects to deliver the first machines in 2026 and is already seeing international interest.
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.
In addition to the demo fields, international conferences were organised by WUR and other chain partners. The ‘Integrated Crop Management – The Future of Potato Farming’ featured discussions on crop diversity, variety selection, soil management, and targeted crop protection were discussed in depth. The ‘Europe’s Position in a Changing Potato World’ conference also attracted significant interest.
Case IH, as tractor sponsor, provided transport during the live demonstrations.
The next edition of PotatoEurope will take place on September 9th and 10th 2026 in Germany.
