The 2 processors of starch potatoes in France are offering growers a lower price for their potatoes this season. This arouses resistance from growers' organization UNPT. Potato growers have had 3 difficult years and a price reduction is therefore not an option, according to them.
While the Dutch and German starch industries are doing very well in times of corona, the French industries are apparently having a more difficult time. Both Tereos Syral and the Vecquemont cooperative have announced that growers should expect a lower payment price for the coming harvest. UNPT therefore issues a press release to indicate that this is not an option.
French potato growers have had three extreme years, with persistent drought causing low yields. This has reached the bottom of many bank accounts. Lowering prices now is therefore not an option, the advocate believes. Cultivation has not been profitable for 3 years and production costs are increasing further. UNPT also hints that arable farmers can seek refuge in other potato varieties: French fries or table potatoes. An imbalance is certainly not desirable now.
More hectare support
Both buyers are called upon to do everything they can to ensure that a profitable payment price can be applied. To support the sector, UNPT believes that there should be more coupled support for starch potato cultivation in the new CAP.