FN3PT: French Potato Seeds Producers Defend the Potato Supply Chains’ Sovereignty

According to a recent press release from the Fédération Nationale des Producteurs de Plants de Pomme de Terre (FN3PT), the sovereignty of the French potato supply chains (fresh and industrial) depends on the availability and use of the country’s certified seed tubers.

Following the reported reduction in the certified potato seed surface areas in 2023 (-10.4%), the French potato growers must learn from previous failures in other sectors, where farmers abandoned output and were replaced by large imports.

“Potato manufacturers (fries, chips, flakes, starches, etc.), fresh food traders, what would be the consequences of an insufficient number of certified seed tubers in your activities?” the FN3PT analysts asked themselves rhetorically.

According to their expertise, FN3PT experts predict a decline in the French farmers’ supply to processors of up to 50% due to seed degeneration.

“Our tests have demonstrated for years the significant loss of yield between certified seed tubers and the others,” they added.

Furthermore, when it comes to the not certified seed tubers, the FN3PT noted a decline in product quality, increased risks of internal tuber defects and/or storage diseases (growers stopping packaging or processing lines in the event of quarantine diseases), and less access to varietal genetic progress.

“The French-certified seed tubers today bring solutions because it is a vector of productivity, quality, and genetic progress. It is the essential link to face societal, environmental, technical, climatic, regulatory, and agroecology challenges in general,” the experts mentioned.

According to the same FN3PT representatives, French-certified potato seeds are more important than ever in ensuring the country's food sovereignty. The French-certified potato seed producers defend self-sufficiency for all downstream industries in a tough climate, where production profitability is under pressure and seeded areas continue to shrink.

Faced with pressure, many seed potato producers are giving up and this trend must be taken seriously by all companies.

“It is important to put in place measures to maintain the dynamism of this sector. Everyone must be aware of this and the potato seed must be paid the right price to support producers,” they concluded.