France: Tensions in the French potato sector, pressure to modify already signed contracts reported

The 2025/2026 conservation potato campaign in France has begun with a strained crop, with a planted area of 197,000 hectares . According to preliminary estimates by the UNPT (National Union of Potato Producers) and commissioned by the CNIPT ( National Potato Producers’ Union) , this figure confirms the sector’s continued growth. However, this expansion is taking place in a stagnant market , where the final volumes of the 2024 harvest have not yet been fully marketed . This mismatch between production and demand exacerbates the sector’s structural tensions.

In this context, the importance of the contractual framework becomes an essential pillar to guarantee the economic sustainability of the sector. However, in recent weeks, some producers have reported pressure to unilaterally modify contracts signed months ago for this same 2025/2026 campaign. These practices, carried out by certain operators, are not new: they had already been observed at the beginning of the year , when several buyers unilaterally reduced the agreed volumes even before the final contracts were signed, just days before the plantings.

UNPT : “A signed contract is binding and must be respected.”

In light of this situation, the UNPT points out that French law is clear : a signed contract is binding on both parties and cannot be amended without mutual consent . This principle is not only legal but also forms part of the protection framework established by the provisions of the EGAlim law , which guarantees the protection of contracted agricultural raw materials .

The organization describes these practices as "a serious deviation" that jeopardizes the stability of the sector , the credibility of the contractual and interprofessional framework , and the trust between producers and operators . Challenging already signed contracts, regardless of the justification, erodes the legal and economic security of farmers, who make considerable long-term investments.

Documentation of pressures and possible public complaints

Faced with this situation, the UNPT announces that it will closely monitor all situations reported by its members . It has also confirmed that it will document each case , record every attempt at pressure , and reserves the right to publicly question the operators involved if violations are repeated or confirmed.

This stance marks a red line in defending the interests of French potato producers. For the UNPT, it’s not just about protecting individual contracts, but also about preserving an agricultural economic model based on trust, mutual respect, and contractual legality . Farmers, they insist, cannot be treated as a variable for economic adjustment .

A 2025/2026 campaign that begins with uncertainty and tension

The fact that the campaign has started with a high acreage (197,000 hectares), despite the marketing problems of the previous harvest, reflects a structural growth trend that may not be sustainable if a clear commercial outlet for the entire production is not ensured.

In this context, respect for the contractual framework becomes essential. If contracts cease to be reliable tools for farmers, planning and investment will be compromised , affecting the entire value chain.

Producers need certainty and solid commitments to ensure the viability of their farms, especially in a sector where investments are high and long-term. Breaking this dynamic of trust can have disastrous consequences not only for farmers, but also for food security and domestic and international market supply .

Conclusion: Strengthening confidence to avoid a sectoral crisis

The UNPT’s message is clear: without respect for contracts , there is no future for the sector . In an increasingly volatile and competitive market, where tensions between supply and demand are heightened, the legal and economic security of producers must be a priority .

The CNIPT interprofessional body, as a key player in the sector’s governance, will need to actively engage in mediating and strengthening contractual guarantees , in order to prevent an escalation of conflicts that could further weaken one of the pillars of the French agricultural system.