PotatoEurope

The 11th edition of PotatoEurope will be held on 14 and 15 September 2016 at Villers-Saint-Christophe in France, halfway between Lille and Paris. This open-field exhibition – organised by the ARVALIS - Institut du Végétal agricultural research institution with the support of the entire French potato industry – has become a worldclass business gathering. Dynamic equipment demonstrations, the Commercial Village and an introduction to technical innovations in potato production are the highlights of this event, which draws visitors from every
continent.

An international business meeting

France is a major player in Western European potato production. As the leading exporters of storage potatoes, and highly active in the exportation of plants to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, the French exhibitors represented in the "commercial village" will demonstrate their skills at PotatoEurope – an event which, year after year, reinforces its credentials as an unmissable destination for discussions and business between international operators. And who knows... maybe 2016 will be the year when international visitors will outnumber French visitors for the first time?

44 hectares of dynamic demonstrations, conference and exhibition areas

Since its creation, PotatoEurope's reputation has been built on the dynamic demonstrations of potato harvesting and reception. This year's French edition will also stand out with its world-leading dynamic optical sorting demonstrations. A total of no fewer than 23 dynamic demonstrations, processing more than a thousand tonnes of tubers, will show off manufacturers' latest innovations in a live environment. ARVALIS is also making plans to include 4 technical areas that will present R&D advances: genetic resources and varietal innovations, agronomy, diagnostics and in-built protection, and storage and conservation. Conferences will be organised (sensors in agriculture, export markets). Covering an area of 44 hectares, the exhibition includes many experts and over 280 exhibitors who will show off their innovations, share their results and discuss their experiences with visitors.

Over 10,000 visitors expected

"All these demonstrations and innovations - the fruits of a sustained R&D effort - reveal French potato production as among the most efficient in Europe. This is the image we're promoting for the 2016 edition of PotatoEurope, giving a sense of pride to the producers and a point of focus for 10,000 expected visitors", says Didier Lombart, President of the ARVALIS - Institut du Végétal's Professional Potato Committee.