Castilla y León promotes potato sector innovation and investment

The regional government of Castilla y León is working to strengthen the potato sector through innovation, investment, and increased protection of producer profitability. During a visit to the Patatas Meléndez facilities in Medina del Campo, Joaquín Antonio Pino, the regional Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Affairs, and Environmental Policy, emphasized the need to bolster all links in the agri-food chain to improve competitiveness while keeping farmers central to the production model.

Patatas Meléndez has invested over 50 million euros to transform its industrial processes using Industry 4.0 technologies. The facility utilizes automation, robotics, artificial vision, and data analysis to manage products from field arrival to distribution. These advancements aim to enhance traceability, precision control, and operational efficiency. The regional administration intends to support such innovative projects to increase the productive capacity and added value of the local agri-food industry.