Belgium potato harvests devastated by extreme drought

Extreme weather conditions, including heavy spring rains followed by intense heat and drought, are devastating potato harvests in Belgium. Farmers report that the soil has become hard and cracked, preventing crops from growing properly.

In the Amay region, the Bintje potato variety—highly valued for producing the long, golden fries central to Belgian cuisine—is being stunted. Many tubers are currently no larger than ping-pong balls, significantly smaller than the typical size required for commercial processing.

As the world's largest exporter of frozen fries, Belgium's potato industry operates under strict supply contracts. Farmers are facing the challenge of meeting these pre-arranged delivery obligations despite the diminished yields. Some producers are attempting to mitigate the impact by utilizing surplus stocks from previous highly productive years.