In Europe, more potatoes were dug up despite a lower yield

The article highlights a decrease in potato yields in the NEPG zone, falling to 43.8 t/ha from the 5-year average of 44.4 t/ha. This is also below the yields of the previous year. The yield variability was considerable, with some areas experiencing less than 20 t/ha and others over 70 t/ha, largely due to differing crop timings. Despite these challenges, the total area of EU-04 expanded by 37.7 thousand. ha, leading to a total production of 24.6 million tons, an increase of 1.6 million tons from the previous year. However, the cost of production has risen significantly, with an increased need for seed processing, late blight management, and storage, leading to an additional minimum of 1,000 euros/ha in expenses for many producers.