PotatoEurope 2026 - A Review

PotatoEurope 2026: Looking Back on Two Busy Days Dedicated to the Potato

PotatoEurope is the meeting point for the European potato sector, and once again Feldsaaten Freudenberger was there. We look back on productive conversations, interesting questions from the field and a topic that concerns potato growers more than ever: a healthy crop rotation.

On 9 September, PotatoEurope 2026 opened its gates in Springe. Across the demonstration plots and exhibition stands, farmers, advisers, merchants and processors from all over Europe came together to exchange ideas on machinery, varieties, crop protection and cropping systems.

The potato starts before the potato

One idea ran through many of our conversations: the success of a potato crop is determined in the years beforehand. Tight rotations, increasing pressure from diseases and pests, and ever more frequent dry spells pose major challenges for farm businesses. At the same time, chemical solutions are only available to a limited extent. This makes the targeted design of the crop rotation all the more important, and cover crops play a key role here.

On our stand, we showed how the right cover crop allows you to pursue several goals at once. These include promoting a stable soil structure, which is essential for uniform ridge formation and good tuber development, retaining nitrogen over the winter, and supporting soil life.

Focus on nematodes and soil-borne diseases

We were asked particularly often about managing nematodes. Free-living nematodes such as Pratylenchus and Trichodorus species can not only cause direct damage; trichodorids also transmit tobacco rattle virus, the cause of spraing. The crucial point is this: not every cover crop is equally suitable for potato rotations. Species, and even varieties, differ considerably in their host status. A poorly chosen cover crop can even increase the nematode population.

We therefore discussed in detail the crops that have proven themselves in practice, such as black oat or Tagetes with regard to Pratylenchus, and brassicas with a biofumigation effect with regard to soil-borne diseases such as Rhizoctonia. At the same time, we pointed out that brassicas should be carefully assessed in rotations with oilseed rape or where clubroot is present. Our advice is therefore always: know your pest. A soil test for nematodes provides the basis for choosing the right species.

Retaining water, protecting the soil

The dry years of the recent past have shown how sensitive the potato is to water shortage. Cover crops with deep and intensive rooting improve pore structure and thus the infiltration and storage of rainfall. Well-established ground cover also protects against erosion, a point not to be underestimated on potato land, which is often light and frequently cultivated.

Exchange that moves us forward

What we particularly value about PotatoEurope is its closeness to practical farming. The questions and experiences you share with us feed directly into our advisory work and the further development of our mixtures. A warm thank you to all visitors, to our colleagues from the trade and advisory services, and to the chambers of agriculture and agricultural colleges who made their way to us with their students.

Get in touch

Are you already planning your cover crop for your next potato rotation, or would you like to know which mixture suits your site and your pest pressure? Our advisory team will be happy to support you personally.