Record seed potato area in Germany broken again

In Germany, more seed potatoes are being grown again this year. This means a record area is being maintained in our eastern neighbors. Especially the variety Edison is making a strong advance. The cultivation of organic seed potatoes is shrinking again. According to the Bundessortenamt 20,549 hectares of propagation potatoes have been planted this year. That is an increase of 59 hectares compared with last year. Far from shocking, but it does mean a record. The German potato sector is managing to stay above 20,000 hectares. Area increases by a fifth For three years in a row, the area of seed potatoes in Germany declined, between 2021 and 2023. Due to a shortage of starting material, and the desire to be more self-sufficient, cultivation is now on the rise again. In three years, the area has increased by more than a fifth. Never before have so many seed potatoes been grown. The varietal mix with the largest areas under it is quite different from that in the Netherlands. It is a mix that also includes many table potatoes. In first place is a chip potato: Edison. This variety comes from the German breeding company Solana. With 765 hectares, the area has increased by almost 50%. This puts it ahead of Belana in first place. Last year, cultivation of this variety even doubled. In second place is the table potato Bernina, from the also German Europlant. Third place is for Belana, of which 11% less was planted this spring. Fontane has shrunk slightly to 510 hectares. Organic seed potatoes shrink again The share of higher classes of seed potatoes increased again this year, to 12,506 hectares. Certified propagation for the consumption crop shrank by 1,140 hectares. Once again, the cultivation of organic seed potatoes has declined. This year by 22%, bringing cultivation to 937 hectares.