French potato grower faces 23% smaller harvest

French production of ware potatoes is in danger of falling by 23% this year. Due to five heatwaves and an exceptional rainfall deficit, growers' organisation UNPT expects the lowest hectare yield in more than thirty years. Combined with a much smaller acreage, this could result in almost two million tonnes fewer potatoes being harvested than last year. In its latest forecast, UNPT is looking at an average yield of 37.4 tonnes per hectare. That is 14% less than the 43.5 tonnes harvested last year. Compared with the five-year average of 43.1 tonnes, the yield is also 13% lower. According to the growers' organisation, this would mean the lowest hectare yield in more than thirty years. Even the dry year 2022 already produced historically low yields. The disappointing hectare yields come on top of a sharp contraction in acreage. Following the overproduction of 2025, French growers planted 10% fewer potatoes this year. In Northwest Europe as a whole, acreage shrank by 11% according to NEPG. That combination of fewer hectares and a much lower hectare yield could cause French production to fall by about 23% compared with last year, according to UNPT. In absolute terms, that amounts to almost 2 million tonnes fewer ware potatoes. The growers therefore expect a bigger decline in potato production than the statistics office Agreste of the French Ministry of Agriculture. Agreste is still aiming for a contraction of 21.5% compared with last year and 7.2% compared with the five-year average. Strikingly, Agreste is assuming a smaller acreage than UNPT. The growers are assuming a smaller harvest per hectare. According to UNPT, the yield will remain stuck at 37.4 tonnes per hectare, while Agreste was still assuming 39.5 tonnes per hectare in its August estimate. The statistics office therefore arrives at a harvest of more than 6.5 million tonnes. Despite more hectares, UNPT comes out slightly lower. Quality more variable Not only is the volume disappointing. The French potato harvest is also expected to be much more heterogeneous. UNPT warns of smaller tubers, varying dry matter contents and physiological defects as a result of the extreme weather conditions. The growers' organisation therefore believes that buyers should adjust their quality requirements and acceptance criteria to this year's harvest. This should prevent potatoes that are usable from still falling outside the specifications and being unable to be marketed. According to UNPT, this is important for all sales segments. Not only is the ware potato market affected, but the potato processing industry and the starch sector will also face a smaller supply. Problem with contract potatoes A major concern is the contracts between growers and buyers. Due to the low yields, some growers are unable to deliver the agreed tonnages. UNPT wants to prevent them from then having to buy potatoes on the free market at their own expense in order to still meet their contract obligations. According to the organisation, growers must not be 'punished twice' for a crop loss resulting from exceptional weather conditions. Contract volumes should therefore be adjustable to the harvest actually achieved. The French industry organisations CNIPT and GIPT are being called on to quickly make agreements on undeliverable contract volumes, quality requirements and the financial consequences of the poor season. UNPT is also asking the French government to discuss this with other European countries. A share of French potatoes has in fact been contracted by foreign buyers. Damage at least €400 million UNPT currently estimates the financial damage for French potato growers at at least €400 million. The organisation believes the consequences of the poor harvest should not fall only on the primary producer. According to UNPT, traders, processors, food service, retailers and ultimately consumers must also take account of the sharply changed market situation. In addition, the growers' organisation is asking the French government to prepare an exceptional support scheme for the hardest hit businesses. According to UNPT, haste is needed because growers are already making decisions about their planting plan for 2027. The organisation fears that the combination of a smaller acreage, historically low yields and major financial losses will otherwise also affect next year's French potato acreage.