Analysis Potatoes
Belgian potato growers reach their limit
Viaverda (formerly PCA) has taken stock of the trial diggings in the potatoes in Belgium. The most striking finding is that the average yields show a declining trend. In addition to extreme weather, Belgian growers are facing the limits of the acreage.
Viaverda estimates the total Belgian potato harvest at 4.55 million tons. This is a slightly smaller harvest than in 2023 but is 4% above the five-year average. The yields per hectare of Bintje, Fontane, Challenger, and Innovator show a declining trend. Part of this is due to the more extreme weather conditions that growers are facing. It is either too dry, too hot, or too wet. In ten years, the potato acreage in Belgium has increased by approximately 20,000 hectares. These additional hectares are disastrous for maintaining sufficient crop rotation space according to Viaverda.
Disappointment with Fontane
The average yields on the potato fields followed this year by Viaverda in Flanders and Fiwap/Carah in Wallonia are around the five-year average. Planting date makes the difference. Early or timely planted potatoes have generally performed well, while late-planted fields lag behind in yield. The average yield of Fontane is 47.0 tons per hectare gross in Flanders and 44.3 tons per hectare in Wallonia. The five-year average is 48 tons per hectare. The yield of Challenger, at 50 tons per hectare, is equal to the five-year average. Innovator (of which only fields in Wallonia were sampled) performed relatively well with an average yield of 47 tons per hectare. The five-year average is 42 tons per hectare. This drought-sensitive variety has benefited the most from the wet growing season. The old reliable Bintje yielded an average of 44 tons gross compared to 42 tons per hectare in the five-year average.
