European potato harvests face crisis due to extreme weather

Extreme weather conditions and climate change are causing significant disruptions to potato harvests across Europe, threatening food supplies and increasing prices.

In Belgium, the nation’s iconic fries face shortages and rising costs as producers report smaller, lower-quality tubers. A cycle of heavy spring storms followed by intense heatwaves and drought has caused the soil to harden, preventing potatoes from growing to the required size for traditional processing. Producers are currently relying on last year’s stocks and less ideal varieties to meet demand.

In France, the situation is equally severe. Estimates suggest edible potato production could drop by 23% this year, representing a loss of nearly 2 million tons. This would mark the lowest average yield in France in over 30 years. The decline is attributed to five heatwaves and significant water deficits, alongside a reduction in total planting area. The National Union of Potato Producers (UNPT) has called for adjusted quality criteria to reflect the realities of the 2026 harvest.