World Potato Congress 2026 brings global potato sector together in Kenya

September 21, 2026

It is no coincidence that the World Potato Congress is being held in Kenya this year. Potatoes are playing an increasingly important role in food security, income generation and employment across large parts of Africa. At the same time, the sector faces major challenges. Access to high-quality seed potatoes, mechanisation, knowledge transfer, crop protection, climate change and the development of professional market chains are all essential to further growth.

WPC 2026 aims to highlight precisely this combination of opportunities and challenges. The programme covers topics including seed systems, genetics, sustainable production, soil and water management, pests and diseases, smart farming, storage and processing, climate resilience and international research collaboration.

Processing expands beyond traditional markets

One notable element of the programme is the attention being paid to the rapid development of potato processing in the Global South. A dedicated session on this topic is scheduled for Tuesday, 27 October. Three entrepreneurs from India, China and Kenya will demonstrate how markets for processed potato products are developing beyond the traditional production regions. Soundararadjane S., CEO of HyFarm within India’s HyFun Group, will present ‘The India Potato Story’. Allen Wang, CEO of SnowValley Agricultural Group, will discuss the growth of processing in China and the country’s changing role within an increasingly value-driven potato industry. Humphrey Mburu, founder and CEO of Sereni Fries, will focus on the expansion of potato processing in Kenya. This session addresses a development that is also highly relevant to the European potato sector. Growth in local processing requires more than investment in factories. It also creates demand for suitable varieties, reliable seed potatoes, production expertise, mechanisation, storage and professional supply chains. As a result, new markets are emerging alongside new opportunities for international cooperation.

Bringing knowledge into the field

The congress will not be confined to presentations and conference rooms. An important part of WPC 2026 will be the Farmers Field Day on Thursday, 29 October in Mau Narok. More than 1,500 Kenyan potato growers and international congress participants are expected to attend. Demonstration fields will showcase varieties, production techniques, mechanisation and other innovations in practice. Preparations are already well underway. Demonstration plots have been allocated and seed potatoes planted, with FreshCrop’s agronomy team working alongside participating partners to manage the crops in preparation for the field day.

The Farmers Field Day is designed to build a bridge between international knowledge and the everyday realities of African potato growers. Access to high-quality seed potatoes, mechanisation and practical knowledge in particular will be crucial to the further professionalisation of the sector.

An international meeting place

The global character of the congress is already clear, with participants from 63 countries registered for WPC 2026. They include growers, researchers, representatives of the seed potato trade and processing industry, technology companies, policymakers and development organisations.

In addition to the main conference programme, there will be workshops, technical visits and extensive opportunities for networking. In this way, the World Potato Congress aims not only to share knowledge, but also to connect organisations and professionals from different parts of the world.

Several internationally recognised potato specialists will also contribute to the programme. Speakers include Cedric Porter, Máximo Torero, Jamey Higham and Simon Heck. From their different areas of expertise, they will address the question of how the global potato sector can continue to develop while responding to challenges including climate change, input availability and food security.

Putting Africa more firmly on the potato map

Kenya’s role as host country gives the 13th World Potato Congress particular significance. Africa’s potato sector has considerable production potential, but realising that potential requires a well-functioning value chain: from reliable seed potatoes and professional crop production to storage, processing and market development.

At the end of October, WPC 2026 will bring all these links in the chain together. The combination of international expertise, rapidly developing potato markets and the realities of potato production in Kenya will make Naivasha one of the world’s most important meeting places for the potato sector for five days.

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