In a context of rising demand and preferences for nearby products, the sweet potato is consolidating its role in the European agri-food chain, with production and export challenges similar to other crops. Producers and nurserymen are moving forward with new strategies, from business partnerships and quality protocols to improvements in plant propagation, to sustain supply in a market marked by the Egyptian competition and cost pressure.
On the table are figures and decisions that anticipate a leap in scale: in the southwest of France a campaign of 1.400 tons about some 60 hectares, while in Belgium the delivery of young plants with greater reliability. At the same time, in training areas, the production of healthy sweet potato guides to diversify crops and strengthen food security.
French production: from niche to structured chain
Fruidor Terroirs began growing sweet potatoes in 2015 in southwest France alongside producers Benoit Labouille and Antoine Proffit, with a clear objective: to reduce dependence on imports and adapt the crop to the Landes of GasconyAfter years of varietal trials, they perfected tasks such as manual planting, weeding, harvesting, curing and packaging, and they mechanized part of the process to gain surface area and efficiency.
The variety that leads the field is Beautiful eyes, with orange pulp, while tests continue with other colors also aimed at the restoration. The commitment to structuring a true local sector has led the company to work with large-scale distribution through the Filière Qualité Carrefour (FQC), seeking visibility for French origins and a stable marketing channel in an environment with many small direct sales producers.
International competition and prices: the role of origin
The sweet potato market in France is experiencing pressure from origins such as United States, Spain and, above all, Egypt. In the last campaign, distribution came to prioritize the promotion of Egyptian products while there was French volume to sell, a dynamic that strains local producers.
The difference in costs and yields is significant: French sweet potatoes are around €2,50–€2,90/kg, in front of €0,90–€1,99/kg of some imports, with yields per hectare in France between two and three times lower. Hence the sector insists on communicating the advantages of local origin, its smaller logistics footprint and more sustainable practices to justify the differential.
Young plants and propagation technology
In the supply link of seedlings, Decock Plants has charted its own course. While many competitors on the Iberian Peninsula continue to spread cuttings From tubers, the Belgian company produces young plants from mother plants grown at their headquarters in Ethiopia, with final rooting in Belgium before distribution.
The system requires more effort and is somewhat more expensive, but it offers greater delivery reliability, opens the door to automation and, according to the company, improves the field performanceHaving a stable climate in Ethiopia ensures continuity of production and, if the weather gets bad at the destination, they can keep plants temporarily in a greenhouse in Belgium to adjust shipping dates.
Its main markets today are Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland, with growing demand after overcoming the initial problems some farmers had when introducing the crop a few years ago. The company will also present its work in Potato Europe (Lelystad, September 3–4), a key showcase for the sector.
Volumes, schedule and supply of seedlings
To sustain growth, the first objective is to increase volumes without increasing costs. In France, the incorporation of a third producer in 2026, with a view to stabilizing or even reducing the cost per kilo while improving the yield per hectare.
It is also studied expand the campaign beyond the current arc from the end of August to the end of April, provided that storage does not compromise profitability due to the expensive energy. In parallel, the supply of plants is a sensitive front: today it depends largely on Portugal, Spain and North Africa, areas exposed to climate risks and the withdrawal of operators, which is why purchases of plants are being tested new origins to diversify.
Dispose of discards and all sizes
Sweet potato generates a significant proportion of discards by size or aesthetics. To ensure that the crop is economically sustainable, the sector is working on contracts and alternative uses that allow for the valorization of these lots and in commercial strategies that place the smallest sizes up to the largest caliber on the market.
Along these lines, nursery growers and producers agree that the key is place the entire production, improving classification, opening channels and adjusting field planning to the real needs of customers. Coordination between links reduces waste and helps defend the fair price in origin.
Training and expansion of cultivation in the territory
Technical training also adds value. A recent day at the José Alberto Ruchesi Gardening School trained professionals from the Ministry of Production and Sustainable Economic Development in production of healthy sweet potato guides, within an agreement with the Education area to raise the qualifications of the sector.
The plan pursues diversify high-demand crops and incorporate sweet potato as a strategic alternative in the horticulture, with an impact on sustainability, added value, and food security. Priority is given to areas with favorable agroecological conditions and growing demand, such as the departments of Sergeant Cabral, Donovan, San Fernando, Libertad, Bermejo and San Martin.
With the reinforcement in knowledge transfer and adoption of technologies, seeks to strengthen technicians and producers, creating economic opportunities and improving the resilience of the sweet potato production system.
The coordinated push of local production, plant technology, trade agreements and specialized training are shaping a more robust and competitive sweet potato sector. There is still work to be done to address the price gap and foreign competition, but the foundations for sustained growth are already in place.
