France (Potato): "Planting even one extra hectare can inevitably lead to failure".
In an open letter addressed to producers, Luc Chatelain, president of the National Interprofessional Committee for Potatoes (CNIPT), emphasizes the need for "responsible management" within the industry to reestablish a healthy market balance.
The French potato industry is currently facing a deep crisis: the rapid increase in acreage, combined with the slowdown in industrial activity and geopolitical tensions, has led to a sharp drop in prices.
In the space of two years, the French area of storage potatoes has increased by 23%, to reach 200,000 ha in 2025. Driven by yields close to the ten-year average (43.5 t/ha), national production set a record, amounting to 8.58 Mt, an increase of 14.7% in one year.
Supply exceeds demand
"At this stage of the campaign, our outlets, whether they concern the domestic market, export or industrial processing, are not able to absorb all the potatoes produced in 2025," recalls Luc Chatelain, farmer in Fontaine-lès-Croisilles (Pas-de-Calais) and president of the National Interprofessional Committee for Potatoes ( CNIPT ) since January 2026 , on the occasion of the Agricultural Show.
"The surface area has increased too quickly: we had in 2025 the volumes we will need in 2030 , with the factories currently under construction ." One site recently opened near Dunkirk (Nord), with an initial capacity of 1,400 tons of fries per day, and two others are under construction, one in the Somme and the other in the Nord.
“For the next season, we producers, the essential and indispensable link in the potato supply chain, have two options: let the market regulate itself or accept a reduction in production .” According to the president of the CNIPT, “a farmer should only produce what they are certain to sell, thanks to contractual commitments or established markets. Only a supply that meets demand, and a collective awareness, will allow us to recreate value within our sector.”
Losses of €8,000 to €10,000/ha
“Everything suggests, as of today, that the 2026 campaign could be even more dramatic than the current one. Contracts for industry are falling sharply, both in price and volume. The free market will play a more significant role. In terms of consumption, the domestic market is mature, with few prospects for growth. The export market has clearly developed in recent years, but is becoming saturated. Processing facilities are not operating at full capacity, some are closing in Europe, and industrial projects under development are being postponed or scaled back.”
The head of the interprofessional organization does not intend to "send a moralizing message" to his fellow producers. "I know that a hectare of spring cereals or corn won’t dramatically increase our revenue per hectare. But what I also know, and I’m convinced of it, is that every hectare of potatoes that doesn’t find a market will result in considerable losses on our farm accounts (€8,000 to €10,000/ha), with lasting consequences." "As producers, our responsibility is significant."
In his open letter to producers, the president of the CNIPT also addresses all stakeholders in the sector: "Let us be collectively and individually responsible to ensure that, tomorrow, our French potato sector , which has so many advantages, will still allow the women and men who make it thrive to flourish serenely."
Fuente: terre-net.fr
