Suiza: "Domestic potato harvest will not be enough to supply the domestic market"

After planting, however, the potatoes and their producers did not have to contend with drought this year - quite the opposite: "The damp, mild weather in early summer led to a heavy infestation with late blight," says Christian Bucher, Managing Director of Swisspatat when asked.

It was only thanks to the great efforts of the producers and a higher use of pesticides that it was possible to prevent major damage. "In the end, the yield in the conventional sector was better than initially expected," Christian Bucher continues. Gross yields this year average 403 kilograms per are. With an edible share of 81 percent, net yields across all varieties amount to 327 kilograms per are. Compared to last year at 292 kilograms per are, this is 12 percent more net yield. Compared to the average for the years 2018 to 2023, which is 240 kilograms per are, yields this year are 4 percent lower.

Less than half in organic farmingThe situation is different in organic farming. Due to the lack of options for combating late blight, where only copper is permitted as a plant protection agent, yields have been low. "Many organic plots had to be abandoned early," regrets Christian Bucher from Swisspatat. Organic yields were therefore more than 50 percent below the long-term average. The wet autumn also made harvesting more difficult in many places.

Further imports are necessaryAccording to Swisspatat’s estimates, a total of 370,000 tonnes of potatoes were harvested and delivered for further marketing and processing. The long-term average for the total harvest is 395,000 tonnes.

"Given the high demand in both the food and processing channels, this quantity will not be enough to supply the domestic market," explains Christian Bucher. Switzerland will have to rely on additional imports to meet demand.