Drought: French potato growers fear record crop slump

This drop comes after an exceptional water deficit and several heatwaves, resulting in smaller tubers and sharply lower yields.

Published on 24/08/2026 - 10:13 GMT+2•Updated 10:18

This year's French potato harvest is expected to be particularly challenging. After five heatwaves and months of severe drought, growers fear a dramatic collapse in yields.

According to the National Union of Potato Producers (UNPT), French production could fall by around 23% year on year. This drop would make the season one of the worst ever recorded for the sector. "This season could mark one of the largest production slumps ever recorded for French potatoes", the organisation says.

The average yield of table potatoes is expected to reach only 37.4 tonnes per hectare, compared with 43.5 tonnes in 2025. The UNPT is already talking about "the lowest yield seen in more than 30 years". The drop would be even sharper than that caused by the historic drought of 2022.

The situation is causing serious concern among growers. On some farms, the combined effects of heat and lack of water could lead to major losses and undermine their economic viability. For the UNPT, "the disastrous economic consequences of this exceptional situation" cannot be shouldered by farmers alone.

The fall in yields could also prevent some producers from meeting the volumes set out in their contracts with processors. The industry is therefore calling for "contracted volumes to be adjusted to reflect the reality of the harvest".

Faced with this situation, producers are demanding "exceptional" support and calling on the government to "engage in determined dialogue", particularly with its European partners. They want to avoid a "double whammy": substantial agricultural losses compounded by commercial difficulties.

As the harvest approaches, anxiety is growing across the sector. This season could leave a lasting mark on French potato production.

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