Spain: Udapa relaunches seed potatoes in Álava

Between 2024 and 2028, Udapa will implement a strategic plan valued at more than €20 million to boost the production of certified seed potatoes in Álava. The cooperative, one of the main drivers of the agri-food sector in Álava, thus seeks to strengthen the cooperative model as a lever for development and reactivate the rural economy. The investments, which combine the construction of a new industrial plant and the incorporation of cutting-edge agricultural technology, mark a key stage in the modernization of the cultivation and processing of Álava potatoes.

New seed potato plant in Júndiz

The construction of a new plant in the Júndiz industrial park is, perhaps, its most visible project. A recently acquired plot of land measuring over 22,500 m² will house a warehouse for the reception, storage, and grading of seed potatoes. Its planned capacity is 9,000 tons. It will feature optical sorting and grading systems, along with efficient refrigeration technologies based on natural ingredients, with the aim of preserving tuber quality while consuming less energy.

This plant is scheduled to be operational for the 2026 harvest season and will serve as the hub for certified seed potatoes, a line that Udapa intends to significantly strengthen. 

At the same time, approximately €500,000 will be allocated to the purchase of cutting-edge agricultural machinery. This equipment includes a belt-fed seeder, designed to reduce impacts or damage to tubers during the planting process, and a two-row harvester that improves efficiency compared to conventional models. These instruments will enable the adoption of precision agriculture, optimizing every intervention in the field.

These investments are not disconnected from social reality. In the recent campaign, Udapa has recruited seven new farmers, four of them under 30 years old. This incorporation is especially relevant in a primary sector that is experiencing a noticeable aging of its production. Furthermore, the cooperative estimates that its seed potato project will generate at least ten new stable jobs in the coming years.

Ten years of Paturpat 

Its strategy of growing its own volume is complemented by another strategy seeking industrial diversification. Paturpat , Udapa’s processing subsidiary, is now celebrating its tenth anniversary. Since its inception in 2016, it has been developing fresh-cut products, including peeled, sliced, steamed, and vacuum-packed potatoes under the Udapa Fácil brand. Currently, the cooperative has around 35 products, more than 200 customers, and a workforce of over 70. Last year, it sold more than 12,000 tons and has set a goal of increasing sales by 10% this year.

To meet this growth target, Paturpat is investing more than €14 million to adapt its facilities on Arriurdina Street in Vitoria-Gasteiz and launch a third production line that doubles its industrial capacity. 

The cooperation between the seed production and processing areas aims to strengthen the internal fit: Alava potatoes as a raw material and a final product convenient for the consumer.

Reactivate potato cultivation in Alava 

Udapa’s commitment is part of a broader context of reactivating seed potato cultivation in Álava. The Basque Government has planned to allocate €6.78 million to the 2025/2026 Seed Potato Sector Plan to incentivize certified production. According to these data, the area dedicated to seed cultivation in the region has decreased over the years. In 2024, 440 hectares were registered in the Basque Country, all in Álava, with a total production of nearly 7,000 tons. 

Thus, Udapa is now among the authorized producers of certified seed potatoes in the Basque Country. Furthermore, it has increased its own cultivation in recent years. Already in the 2023-2024 campaign, it increased its production area by 10.5% compared to the previous year, reaching more than 350 hectares between consumption and seed. Within this area, Udapa is experimenting with varieties less common in Álava, such as Amandine, Edurne, and Beltza. 

Udapa’s initiatives involve job creation in rural areas and a commitment to preserving active and productive lands.

Future project 

Júndiz’s new certified seed plant forms the backbone of an effort to strengthen local food sovereignty, revitalize rural areas, and offer professional alternatives to depopulation. This strategy aims for a business model with local roots and an industrial vision.

For Álava society, these initiatives imply job creation in rural areas and a commitment to preserving active and productive land. In the face of the challenges posed by 2026, such as climate change, energy prices, and generational change, Udapa aspires to be a player capable of sustaining the potato as an agricultural driving force and an element of Álava’s identity.