Germany: German potato acreage exceeds 300,000 ha for the first time
For the first time in history, the area devoted to potato cultivation in Germany has exceeded 300,000 hectares. This is evidenced by the latest figures from the German statistical office, Destatis, based on the German agricultural census.
This year, the area dedicated to potato cultivation is 301,000 hectares, compared to 282,000 hectares last year. This represents an increase of 19,000 hectares in one year, representing a growth of 6.7%. Since 2021, the agricultural area dedicated to potato cultivation has increased by 43,000 hectares. This year’s area dedicated to potato cultivation is even larger than previously estimated. At the beginning of this year, the estimate was 296,000 hectares.
In fact, the area dedicated to starch potatoes has decreased by 4,000 hectares since 2021. The area dedicated to ware potatoes and French fries has increased. At the state level, the figures also differ from expectations, according to the German agricultural magazine Topagrar. In Bavaria, for example, a slight decrease in area was expected, but it now appears to have increased by up to 13%, reaching 4,700 hectares.
Varies by state
In Lower Saxony, on the other hand, the 4.7% increase (6,300 hectares) is actually smaller than expected. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the 6.7% increase (3,000 hectares) is larger than expected a few months ago.
The growth in potato acreage in Germany is not surprising. In June, the Northwest European Potato Growers Association (NEPG) estimated a 5% increase in potato acreage in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France. This means that approximately 25,000 hectares more potatoes are being cultivated in these four countries than last year. Processing capacity has been expanded in Belgium and France, among other countries.
In the Netherlands, the area under cultivation of ware potatoes is growing at a surprising rate. The increase in cultivation area has not been so pronounced in 25 years. According to preliminary figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), ware potato cultivation is increasing by 8.6%, reaching 83,100 hectares. This means the area has exceeded 80,000 hectares for the first time since 2000.
Fuente:
