Svizzera: raccolto di patate da record di 333,000 tonnellate, con conseguenti importazioni per circa 130,000 tonnellate.

Switzerland harvested about 333,000 tonnes of potatoes in 2026. This is the lowest total since measurements began more than a century ago, the national broadcaster SRF reported on 3 September, citing the industry organisation Swisspatat. The 2020–2025 average was 411,000 tonnes, so the crop is roughly 20% smaller.

The average yield fell to 29.4 tonnes per hectare. The 2020–2025 average was 37.9 tonnes. According to SRF, this is the lowest yield in more than 60 years.

Irrigation made the difference

About half of the Swiss potato area was irrigated this summer. Irrigated fields yielded about 55% more than fields without irrigation, according to the industry figures. Tubers are smaller than usual, but quality is good. The dry weather also kept late blight under control.

Imports and self-sufficiency

The industry estimates that about 130,000 tonnes must be imported to cover demand. Self-sufficiency is expected to fall from a typical 85% to 70–75%. The managing director of the organisation, Christian Bucher, told SRF that supply is secured and that there will be no crisis.

Imports at low duty are limited by a tariff quota. The total quota is 23,750 tonnes, according to the Federal Office for Agriculture. It is split into 4,000 tonnes of seed potatoes, 9,250 tonnes of processing potatoes, 6,500 tonnes of table potatoes and 4,000 tonnes of potato products. The industry organisation can ask the office for a temporary increase after a poor harvest. Such increases were granted after the weak harvests of 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2024.

Higher prices and looser rules

The trade has already adjusted grower prices, according to the weekly Bauernzeitung. Conventional waxy potatoes are priced at CHF 62.15 per 100 kg. Floury potatoes are at CHF 57.85. Both are CHF 9.20 higher than last year. Organic potatoes rose by CHF 14 to CHF 106.15 per 100 kg. The minimum size was cut to 25 mm for waxy and 35 mm for floury types. Growers also receive CHF 20 per 100 kg for potatoes sold fresh as animal feed.

Perché è importante

The expected import need is more than five times the regular tariff quota. A quota increase is therefore likely to be discussed in the coming months. For exporters in Germany, France and the Netherlands, Switzerland becomes an additional buyer in a year of short supply.

The industry also wants to expand robust varieties. Thirteen such varieties now cover one fifth of the area. The goal is 80% by 2040. The sector is also asking for access to genome editing, which is blocked by a moratorium until 2030.

Our earlier report covered the first test digs of the season, which showed yields down 38%.

Photo: Potato harvest, a 1909 drawing by the Swiss artist Paul Klee (illustrative). Paul Klee / Wikimedia Commons, Pubblico dominio