Rischi senza precedenti per i coltivatori di patate: un rapporto da NEPG

I coltivatori di patate dell'Europa nordoccidentale (NEPG) has raised alarms about the unprecedented risks faced by potato farmers this year. Late planting seasons, emergence issues, and high disease pressure have placed yields under significant threat. Despite these challenges, NEPG reports a 4-6% increase in potato planting across Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Germany.

This year, prolonged rainfall has caused unprecedented delays in potato planting across Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Germany. “The planting season averaged eight to ten weeks this spring, with the last potatoes only planted in early July,” noted NEPG. This delay has led to a wide variety of crop stages, from fields in full bloom with large tubers to freshly planted ones.

Preoccupazioni su qualità e quantità

La semina tardiva ha fatto sì che molte patate da semina perdessero la capacità di germogliare. La pioggia eccessiva e l'uso di patate da semina tagliate hanno portato alla putrefazione, causando notevoli problemi di emergenza, soprattutto in Belgio e nei Paesi Bassi. In alcuni campi fino all’80% delle patate piantate non sono riuscite a svilupparsi in piante. Le forti piogge e le inondazioni hanno ulteriormente aggravato le perdite, colpendo varie regioni del Benelux e parti della Germania, come la Baviera.

Ci sono numerose incertezze sulla qualità e quantità futura del raccolto. Persistono dubbi sul fatto se le patate piantate tardivamente saranno abbastanza grandi per la lavorazione e se raggiungeranno un peso sott'acqua adeguato. Inoltre, quest'anno si è verificata una carenza di patate da semina adatte, che hanno portato all'utilizzo di varietà meno ideali e di patate da semina a taglio grande, che potrebbero non soddisfare gli standard di lavorazione.

Problemi di patate da semina

NEPG does not expect the seed potato issues to be resolved by the next season. While the area dedicated to seed potatoes has increased in France, it has decreased by 3% in the Netherlands compared to 2023. “Moreover, hundreds of hectares used for seed potato cultivation in the Netherlands have been heavily damaged,” NEPG stated. The organization also highlighted the uncertainty regarding tuber formation and the number of tubers.

Aumentare la concorrenza

Nelle NEPG zone, the demand from the processing industry continues to rise, with production capacity, particularly in France, also increasing. However, the market for frozen fries and other processed potato products has recently stabilized or declined. NEPG points out that there is growing competition from North America and increasing pressure from countries like China, India, Turkey, and Argentina. “Potato growers need to consider these developments when thinking about further expansions or investments,” NEPG consigliato.

These combined factors have made the risks for potato growers higher than ever before. Climate-related issues and significant disease pressures are major concerns. “With the resistance of some Phytophthora strains and reduced availability of fungicides, potato farming has become much riskier,” NEPG noted. The organization concluded that while sustainable production is expected from growers, disruptive weather patterns complicate this goal, raising many questions about the sustainable future of the potato sector.