In the European Union, the potato harvest for 2023 reached 48.3 million tons, marking a marginal increase from the 47.5 million tons recorded in 2022. Despite this year-on-year growth, there has been a noticeable downward trend in potato production over the past decades, with the 2023 figures standing 27.9 million tons lower than those of 2000, reflecting a 36.7% decrease.
Eurostat's recent publication provides an in-depth analysis of the potato sector within the EU, covering aspects such as farm production, pricing, and trade. Germany emerged as the leading potato producer within the EU for 2023, harvesting 11.6 million tons, which represents 24.0% of the total EU production. France and the Netherlands followed, contributing 17.9% and 13.4% to the EU total, respectively. Collectively, these three nations accounted for over half of the EU's potato output in 2023.
Regarding organic potato production, it remains a niche segment within the EU. Out of the 9.1 million farms in 2020, only 1.0 million engaged in potato cultivation, with a mere 25,000 of these adhering to organic farming practices. This equates to just 2.5% of potato farms, with Austria leading in the proportion of organic potato farms at 25.6%.
Source: eureporter.co