Porbatata - Potato Association of Portugal presented the Project for the Promotion of Portuguese Potato in External Markets on October 23, 2020.
Until 2022, the Portuguese potato will be promoted in France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Slovenia and Angola, markets considered strategic by Porbatata, which designed a set of initiatives to promote and enhance the national potato.
This project is supported by Portugal 2020, under the Operational Program Competitiveness and Internationalization and foresees a global investment of 352 988 euros, 85% financed by FEDER - European Regional Development Fund.
Among the planned initiatives is the creation of a collectively owned brand for the potato from Portugal, which will highlight the quality and differentiation of this product to bring it closer to its origin. Porbatata also intends to organize an International Competition for Portuguese Potatoes in France.
Within the scope of the Portuguese Potato Promotion Project in the External Markets, a strategic study will also be developed for the internationalization of the sector in new markets: United Arab Emirates, Slovenia and Angola.
In 2019, potato exports totaled 28.5 million euros. The main destinations were Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Cape Verde, France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
In Portugal, per capita consumption of potatoes is 93.6 kg per year. It is produced throughout the country, with emphasis on the areas between Douro and Minho, Trás-os-Montes, Beira Interior, Beira Litoral, Oeste, Ribatejo, Península de Setúbal and Alentejo (sea side). In total, the area occupied by the cultivation totals 22K ha and the average production reaches close to 500 KMT per year.