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As the World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC) looks ahead to its 13th Congress in Nairobi, Kenya in 2026, we also take a moment to pause and reflect on the milestones, partnerships, and people that have shaped our work throughout 2025. This past year has reminded us of the strength of the global potato community—its scientific excellence, its collaborative spirit, and its shared commitment to progress within the industry.

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A look back…International Day of the Potato 2025

2025 Theme: “Shaping History, Feeding the Future,”

The WPC worked closely with counterparts in both the FAO and CIP to support the 2nd International Day of the Potato.

In 2025, celebrations took place across multiple regions, reflecting strong engagement from governments, producer organizations, industry, and research institutions. The World Potato Congress Inc. highlighted several of these activities, including:

Africa – In Kenya, the National Potato Council (NPCK) and partners marked the day alongside the National Potato Conference and Trade Fair in Nakuru County, bringing together policymakers, farmers, and private-sector stakeholders to focus on regulation, innovation, and value chain development.

In South Africa, Potatoes South Africa organized fresh produce market activities in Cape Town and Johannesburg, emphasizing nutritional benefits, cultivar diversity, and engagement with buyers.

Europe – In Brussels, leading European potato organizations convened a joint event to discuss innovation, sustainability, and best practices across the supply chain, emphasizing the potato’s role in regional food systems.

North America and the Pacific – In Canada, industry partners coordinated a series of public outreach efforts, including radio segments and farm visits, while Potatoes USA highlighted the people and legacy behind potato production. In Australia, Potatoes Australia led a national campaign featuring an online culinary event, a photo competition, and focused communication on the nutritional and economic importance of potatoes.

Stay tuned as the theme and plans develop for 2026 International Day of the Potato to be held May 30th, 2026!

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Honouring the Legacy of Dr. Hubert Zandstra

 

In 2025, we were deeply saddened by the passing of longtime WPC Director and respected colleague, Dr. Hubert Zandstra.

Dr. Zandstra served as Director General of the International Potato Center (CIP) from 1991 to 2005 and as a WPC Director from 1999 to 2015.

Hubert’s résumé dates back to the 1960s, when he first worked in the Canadian research system. His career spanned decades of service in international agricultural research, including key leadership roles as Deputy Director General for Research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Director of the Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Sciences Division at Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

Across these roles, he worked as a scientist, policymaker, donor, and research manager, always focused on how science could improve the lives of the poor and strengthen rural communities. He was widely recognized for his leadership in sustainable food security and natural resources management, but colleagues also remember him as a pragmatic problem-solver, a generous mentor, and a trusted advisor to national research systems around the world.

“Hubert was a true friend to the industry and we at the WPC, along with many others in the global potato community, honour his legacy.” says WPC President Peter VanderZaag. Dr. Zandstra opened doors for a generation of young scientists from developing countries, helping many to pursue advanced training and meaningful careers in research. His deep respect for different cultures, his steady commitment to equity, and his personal integrity have left a lasting imprint on international agricultural development and on the global potato sector.

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Welcoming and Recognizing Our Newest 2025 Sustaining Partners

 

In 2025, WPC was pleased to welcome new Sustaining Partners and announce existing Partners at increased levels of commitment and support for the WPC Inc. initiatives.

A special welcome to our first Diamond Partner TriCal Group! TriCal has been a longstanding supporter of the WPC Inc. and their continued support in many aspects including leadership and guidance has been very much appreciated.

WPC also welcomes our newest Platinum Partners who joined in 2025 including PepsiCo, Idaho Potato Commission and AUSVEG with advanced commitment from the PEI Department of Agriculture.

Thank you to our 2025 Gold Partners including Hyfun Foods, Potatoes Australia, Wyma Soulutions and the Quebec Potato Board with an advanced commitment from Kroeker Farms.

These partners join over 40 additional partners all of whom play an important role in advancing the work carried out by the WPC Inc. between Congresses. Their engagement reflects a shared commitment to the long-term growth and networking and educational opportunities of the global potato industry.

More information on these partners can be found on the WPC Inc. website here.

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Advancing Global Standards in Seed Potato Certification

 

Reliable access to high-quality seed is central to productivity, profitability, and resilience in the potato sector.

Through the work of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Specialized Section on the Standardization of Seed Potatoes, international experts and government representatives have continued to strengthen the global framework supporting seed potato quality and trade. Originally developed in 1968, the UNECE International Standard for Seed Potatoes has evolved over time to reflect advances in science, production systems, and international trade. In late 2025, UNECE released a revised version of the standard following extensive technical review and international consultation.

The UNECE seed potato standard provides a common language and minimum quality requirements used by government authorities, seed growers, exporters, and buyers worldwide. Recent updates to the standard further clarify certification processes, inspection approaches, disease and pest management provisions, and traceability and labelling requirements across the supply chain. Together, the standard and its supporting guidance improve access to practical information, support capacity building, and remain relevant to both emerging and established seed potato certification programs.

With global seed potato exports valued at approximately USD 1.1 billion (around 1.7 million tonnes) in 2023, these advances are expected to reduce technical barriers to trade and support higher and more consistent seed quality worldwide.

The World Potato Congress (WPC) will provide an opportunity in 2026 for a joint panel webinar with the UNECE Chair Hanna Kortemaa (Finland) and Co-Chairs Triona Davey (Scotland/UK) and Nigel Crump (Australia). For transparency, it is noted that Nigel also serves as a Director of WPC. The panel will elaborate on the final set of standards and their practical application.

Read the UNECE release

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Delegate Sponsorship

WPC Success Stories of Global Reach
The Impact of the Declaration of Dublin

 

The World Potato Congress (WPC) provides funding support to delegates to attend its congresses to empower countries in addressing food security challenges through potato farming. Potatoes are a vital crop that plays a significant role in global food and income security, especially in developing regions like Asia, Africa, and South America. Many of these countries have not fully maximized the potato’s yield potential, facing challenges such as limited access to quality seed, inadequate mechanization, and vulnerability to pests and climate change.

By supporting delegates from global south nations, the WPC and Sustaining Partners aim to enhance their potato programs, helping them implement effective agricultural practices, improve productivity, and reduce post-harvest losses.

This funding initiative is supported by a portion of the funds from WPC Sustaining Partners and aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, promoting prosperity and addressing social needs such as education, health, and job opportunities.

Throughout 2025, the WPC Inc. continued to showcase the stories of sponsored delegates. These success stories and the WPC’s evolution in adopting the Declaration of Dublin can be found on the WPC website under “Around the Globe”.

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Webinars: Education between Congresses

 

The WPC Inc. holds webinars throughout the year allowing for a sharing of ideas. Thank you to all our 2025 hosts, for contributing your expertise to educating the global potato industry. Attendance at this years webinars broke previous years records and as such, we will continue to support the global potato community in 2026 with more educational opportunities. Recorded webinars for the year 2025 can be found here.

Recorded Webinars

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2026 – International Year of the Woman Farmer

 

On December 4th, 2025, the FAO announced 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. From their press release: “ This International Year, adopted by the United Nations, highlights the essential role that women farmers play in transforming global agrifood systems. Under the slogan “Empowered women, transforming agrifood systems”, IYWF 2026 calls for greater recognition of their contributions to food security, nutrition and poverty eradication.”

The WPC Inc. looks forward to raising awareness of the roles women play in the global potato industry throughout this coming year. We will be working alongside our Kenya hosts and our our media partners to run stories promoting the upcoming Congress.

The first story is expected for release in the January 2026 issue of the Badger Common’Tater, a WPC media partner and written by Joe Kertzman. This story highlights the experiences of Florence Malemba, an agricultural officer in Nakuru County, Kenya, In an early excerpt from the article, Kertzman writes: “Malemba says, though women make up 60-80% of the agricultural workforce in Kenya.” We look forward to learning more about the important contributions women are making in the Kenyan Agricultural industry.

Early in 2026, the WPC Inc. will release the names of the inspiring women participating in the Kenya Congress “Women and Youth” program and associated panel discussions.

FAO Press Release

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13th Congress – Naivasha, Kenya – 2026

 

We are counting down to just 9 months away for the 2026 World Potato Congress. Join the global potato community at the 13th World Potato Congress to be held in Naivasha, Kenya, October 26-30, 2026. Check out the website at https://wpc2026kenya.com to learn more about the Congress and the planning for the week long event.

 

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Sustaining Partnership

 

The World Potato Congress Inc, as a non-profit organization, is grateful for the corporate sponsorships of our Partners. It is through their annual contributions that the World Potato Congress is able to develop global supports for the industry including the guidance on the International Day of the Potato, webinars, workshops and supports to sponsored delegates.

Stay tuned for 2025 when we look to expanding our models, allowing for more collaboration of potato industry reps from around the globe to participate in thematic groups (research, sustainability, marketing, and more!)

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2030 and 2032 – Call for Expressions of Interest to Host a World Potato Congress

 

In November 2025, WPC launched a revised, more user friendly system for gathering interest from potential future Congress hosts. Interested in Hosting a World Potato Congress in 2030 or 2032? Check out this link to complete the form before May 31, 2026.

Congress Hosting

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Potato Expo – Dallas 2026

 

Next week, WPC Inc. Directors and International Advisors look forward to connecting with the global potato industry at the Potato Expo in Dallas, Texas. See you there!

The World Potato Congress is governed by a Board of Directors who receive guidance from an elected group of Global International Advisors. These members are their biographies can be found below:

Quick List of Directors and International Advisors (PDF)

Directors

International Advisors