French growers are expanding the potato area considerably in 2019. This is accelerating the trend of recent years. This is according to new figures from the French Ministry of Agriculture.
This article was updated on Monday, April 29. It was previously incorrectly reported that the area increased by 12,8% this year. However, this is the growth over 5 years. In 2019, the area is estimated to increase by 2,7%. The tone of the story is tailored to this.
Preliminary figures from the French agricultural statistics service Agreste show that the potato area will increase by 2,7% (4.000 hectares) this year. This brings the area to 149.000 hectares. The area of starch potatoes increases by 0,8% (+24.000 hectares). UNPT, the growers' organization, warned not to allow the area of consumption potatoes to increase. Provisional figures show that potato growers still see profit in the cultivation.
For 2018, the government service calculates an area of 145.000 hectares for the main harvest and early potatoes. Viewed over 5 years, the area has increased explosively (+12,8%). The area of starch potatoes increased by 11,1% during that time.
European area
France is the second largest potato producer in Europe. This growth also affects the total European potato area. Made earlier Boerenbusiness an analysis asking whether the area growth is manageable for the processing industry.
The growth of the French area will mainly take place in the Hauts-de-France department, which borders Belgium. The region was good for 2018 million tons of chip potatoes in 3,8, which is approximately 66% of the total production. There are 4 factories in the neighboring Belgian province of Hainaut, which process 33% of production.
Starch area is also growing significantly
The French starch potato area is also growing. This growth fits well with the ambition of the two French starch potato processors, who will produce 1,5 million tons of starch potatoes in the coming campaign. want to process.