News

Ireland and a World Potato Congress are completely synonymous. Because of history and tradition, Ireland’s relationship with the potato is unique. In the late sixteenth century, the potato made its way from Peru to Ireland. It is entirely appropriate therefore that four hundred years later and following the last staging of this successful event in Cuzco, Peru, in May 2018, the 11th World Potato Congress event is to be held in Dublin, Ireland from 31ST May – 3rd June, 2021.

The proposed venue for the World Potato Congress – The Royal Dublin Society’s (RDS) Conference Village – is an iconic, accessible and flexible venue located on a beautiful 42 acre site, close to Dublin City Centre. It is regarded as Ireland’s premier venue for exhibitions, conferences, meetings and entertainment events just minutes from Dublin’s bustling city centre. The RDS continues to promote science, the arts, agriculture, business and equestrianism in Ireland.

“For the first time ever, a World Potato Congress and a Europatat Potato Congress will be held concurrently” said Liam Glennon, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee. “This dual international potato event will be truly unique and a strong commercial presence is a given. There will be an unprecedented opportunity for delegates to meet global potato contacts and to explore new business opportunities in the fresh, processed and seed potato sectors.

Again, because of our history, no country is better placed to vouch for the role of the potato in combatting global hunger and its credentials as a sustainable and nutritious staple. It is our intention to fully involve developing countries in the WPC programme agenda and to profile best practices that are creating new potato enterprises, promoting food sustainability and contributing to raising the standard of living of communities. The Irish Potato Federation is working very hard with WPC Inc. to create a stimulating and varied programme based on the very latest global potato developments. Sparing no effort to secure the very best speakers in their field (business, trading, production and research) from any part of the world, along with optional visits to Irish institutions and production units, will ensure high visitor numbers. We have a saying in Irish: Céad Míle Fáilte. Literally it means “one hundred thousand welcomes” and this we will heartily extend to the global potato community in Ireland in 2021.”

“Having Ireland host this high-level global potato event will contribute to the WPC ambition to organize a premium network event for the global potato value chain”, adds Romain Cools, President and CEO of World Potato Congress Inc., the Prince Edward Island, Canada based NGO. “In collaboration with the International Potato Centre (CIP) and a number of umbrella organizations active in potato driven development projects, this Congress will also continue to activate and promote potato projects in Africa, Asia and South America. The potato crop can stimulate welfare and well-being in societies in this part of the world. Also in this work Ireland and this 11th World Potato Congress can play a crucial role.”

Although there are still two years to go to WPC 2021, already interest is considerable. To keep up to date and to avoid disappointment, check out wpc2021.com and register your interest now.