gave potatoa meal that is never missing from the table, is going through a period. The crisisBeing marked by price waves increases the risk of their status being equated with “poor food”. Consumer prices for potatoes were recorded. An increase of 15 cents Compared to last year, while production costs are skyrocketing.
Potato Crisis: Price Rise
In Italy i Potato prices are increasing, while production in Germany and France is sharply declining. Spain is also in crisis, so exports have been canceled to meet domestic needs. The Spanish case is a foreshadowing of Italy’s price problems, which are growing month by month. On September 30, the figure was +15 cents, a further increase from the previous one and which is added to the inflation figure on the shopping cart, which is weighted. 256 euros more per year.
Reasons for the increase include climate change, but also the spread of wireworms and the ban on the use of specific chemical principles for cultivation in Italy. According to data provided by AnapaIn Europe alone, 11,000 hectares of potato were lost in the last campaign. In particular, the tuber sector suffered the most severe impacts: heavy rains negatively affected the yield and quality of the crop, leading to reduced yields and A large amount of waste of products.
The situation is further complicated by pressure from the processed industry. The sector represents more than 60% of final consumption in OECD countries and potato producers themselves have to contend with growing demand for processed products such as mashed potatoes, chips and other prepackaged foods. These are the most profitable markets for many farmers, diverting attention from the production of fresh tubers.
An import market in Italy
Estimates point to a 70 percent increase in potato demand by 2030, suggesting that many farmers may be encouraged to move to more lucrative contracts with the industry, at the expense of production for direct consumption. . With an increasing focus on sustainability and Quality of food productsthe market is likely to shift to a wider variety of potatoes, which will increase pressure on potato growers to sell directly.
In Italy, addiction Imports of Tuber This is another concern. In 2023, according to Istat data, imports reached 865 thousand tons, which is 33 percent higher than in 2022, while exports were limited to only 100 thousand tons.
Difficulties during sowing: Decrease in yield
This year’s planting has been irregular, forcing producers to use the larger potato varieties currently available, which are not normally used by professional farmers. Although the area cultivated with potatoes in Italy remained the same as in previous years, about 47 thousand hectares, 2023 crop It was one of the poorest regions of the last ten years. David VernucciPresident of Apo Conerpo Consortium, comments that it Price increase is due to crop failure and that, despite modest current shortages, the challenges remain significant.
Another concern is cold-weather comfort foods, like squash. According to recent data, pumpkin production in Italy has also decreased significantly, affecting prices and availability.
