POTATO trade, plant health and food safety remain key focus points for Europatat, the European potato trade association which recently gathered in Lille, France, for the Europatat Congress 2025, co-organised by Fedepom, but consumer trends and research are taking on a bigger focus.
Europatat’s membership approved the association’s accounts and strategy for the period 2025-2028. Whilst the three key topics remain at the core of Europatat’s priorities for the year to come, other dossiers such as sustainability reporting and measurement, nutrition and promotion of potato consumption or potato-related research are also gaining more and more importance in Europatat’s work.
The Europatat’s 2024-2025 Activity Report, which provides an overview of the association’s work since June 2024, was also presented to the membership. A digital version of the report is now publicly available on Europatat’s website.
During the meeting of the General Assembly, Francisco Moya was appointed Treasurer, replacing Heero Gramsma (Luonnosta Holland), who has been on Europatat’s board for the past eight years. Tigran Richter (Norika, Germany) will continue as President of the Association, and Vlastimil Rasocha (from the Czech Potato Association CBS) will continue as Vice-President.
Francisco Moya is currently Managing Director of Vitalis Network, which collaborates with 400 potato growers, offering variety advice and production support. From an early stage of his career, he has been involved in professional associations and organisations in the potato sector. He is currently part of FEDEPOM (the French federation of traders in potato, garlic and onion) and the French interbranch CNIPT and was chair of the former ware potatoes commission. As recognition for his dedication to the potato sector, he was made a Knight of the French Order of Agricultural Merit in 2024.
He said: “I have worked in this sector for 37 years and have participated in Europatat’s work for almost as many years. This appointment in Lille is an additional sign of satisfaction for me, given my attachment to this region.”
