The International Potato Symposium, a global event dedicated to the potato supply chain

The potato, the third most widely cultivated crop on the planet with more than 5,000 varieties grown in 160 countries around the world, will be the star product at Macfrut 2025, the international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable supply chain, to be held at the Rimini Expo Centre from Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 May. Potatoes, a globally important crop grown on 18 million hectares, will be the focus of an international event during Macfrut 2025, attracting leading industry professionals and experts who will provide comprehensive insights. In fact, the trade fair will host the International Potato Symposium, coordinated by Luciano Trentini, which will last several days with in-depth sessions on technology, agronomy and the market, as well as visits to exhibiting companies, with the participation of global experts and stakeholders in the industry and top researchers in the field. 

Trentini explains:

‘Macfrut is the leading supply chain trade fair in the sector, offering Italian and international visitors a comprehensive overview of fruit and vegetable cultivation. The next edition of Macfrut will showcase the entire supply chain of potatoes, which will be at the heart of the exhibition, conferences and trade part of the event. Visitors and experts will have the opportunity to find the answers they are looking for by engaging in discussions with global experts and stakeholders in the industry and top researchers in the field. We are talking about a global product, the third most widely cultivated crop (after wheat and rice), which also has significant environmental value. In terms of water usage, for instance, research indicates that this nightshade crop requires less water per unit produced. In fact, while it takes 400-500 litres of water to produce 1 kg of potatoes, it takes more than twice as much water to produce 1 kg of wheat and four times as much to produce 1 kg of rice.’ 

The International Potato Symposium will take place over several days: the Symposium will be the main event on the first two days, Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 May, while the third day will be dedicated to technical visits. Trentini adds:

‘The Potato Symposium will have an international flair and will address current issues on the first day, including the sector’s development prospects and an analysis of the fresh product market and the industrial processing of potatoes. One of the key sessions at the conference will be on crop protection issues currently of concern to growers across Europe. International speakers will discuss strategies for protecting crops from elaterids, commonly known as ‘click beetles’, and Cyperus esculentus, which is regarded as a particularly damaging pest and has therefore been included in the EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization) list of the most dangerous invasive species.’  

The second day will focus on trade-related topics, including trends in potato consumption, consumer preferences and the role of communication in the marketing of standard potatoes and those with a quality label. The programme will include a session on innovation in the potato supply chain and will also cover variety research, one of the most topical issues for potato growers as they face a growing number of challenges, including those posed by climate change and other factors.