European potatoes: 3-4% increase in acreage in 2016

Members of the NEPG have estimated that potato acreage in the 5 main producing countries (UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France) could reach 546,500 hectares (+19,500 hectares/2015), i.e. back to the levels reached in 2010 and 2014 with an increasing industry demand. Acreage will be the same in the UK but Belgium will increase, up 6% compared to 2015. However, at the end of April, 40% of acreage across the EU-5 zone still had to be planted (even more in some zones such as Belgium). Due to cold weather and rainfall, there is a 2 to 3 week delay compared to an average production year. Therefore, it is not certain if there will be a bigger harvest than last year. The NEPG says that it will all depend on the total acreage of the latest plantings and seasonal growing conditions. (Source: NEPG)