The World Potato Congress Inc. has officially launched its International Potato Working Groups. This marks a significant development for the global potato industry. For over three decades, starting in the early 1990s, the World Potato Congress Inc. has traveled around the globe. It has provided networking and educational opportunities focused on all things potato.

World Potato Congress Kenya 2026

Over the years, momentum and attendance have been building around the side meetings and informal discussions held at the biennial Congress event. While not advertised as official congress meetings, during the Adelaide, Australia Congress in 2024, global networking group organizers quickly saw their meeting rooms fill. Extra chairs were brought in as interest grew.

“We left Australia with the request from many of our partners to keep the momentum going. They tasked us to look for a way to formalize these networking structures,” said WPC President Peter VanderZaag. “Strategic planning by the WPC Inc. Directors and International Advisors in 2025, under the guidance of WPC Executive Director Ellen Kouwenberg, has helped develop this further.”

Emerging from this process comes the official launch of Global Potato Thematic Working Groups. These groups are designed to create a more formalized platform for ongoing collaboration during and between Congresses. They will deepen WPC’s impact in mission-aligned areas and connect stakeholders around shared priorities.

At the 2026 Kenya Congress, which will take place from October 26 to 30, a full day of additional meetings are now planned to advance these topics. The groups include the International Potato Research Collaborative Framework (IPRCF), Potato Aeroponics Network, Apical Rooted Cuttings Network, International Marketing Group and Global Potato Sustainability. Registration for these meetings can be found within the Congress registration process.

Beginning at the Congress in October, these groups will be formalized. There will be an opportunity for membership and participation via a SharePoint platform. This will allow global collaboration on education, information sharing and project work on an ongoing basis.

Leading the charge in these formalized groups will be some familiar and well respected voices in the global potato world. The International Marketing Group Workshop will be led by Georgia Thomas from Western Australia Potatoes, Blair Richardson, WPC Inc. Director and CEO Potatoes USA, and Greg Donald, VP of WPC Inc. and GM of the PEI Potato Board, Canada.

A familiar meeting to past Congress attendees engaged in this field, the International Marketing Group will focus on collaboration strategies to promote potato consumption globally. It will continue to elevate and enhance the image of potatoes as a healthy and versatile food source.

Participation is open to all with a shared passion for the potato industry. Together, participants will explore opportunities to elevate the position of potatoes for the future through knowledge exchange, research insights, and collaboration.

The group will discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping global potato demand and proven strategies that inspire growth. Members will learn about the latest potato nutrition studies and global trends. They will partner on international efforts such as the International Day of Potato to amplify visibility and impact. They will access and contribute to shared marketing tools, creative assets, and educational resources. They will also promote responsible practices and communicate potatoes’ role in a resilient food system.

The conversation will continue well beyond the World Potato Congress in Kenya. Plans are underway for virtual meetings and ongoing collaboration.

The World Potato Congress Inc. is proud to introduce its confirmed partners, sponsors and exhibitors for the 2026 Kenya event. The organization is delighted to have such a strong group of organisations involved. They look forward to collaborating closely with their teams in the coming months and to welcoming them to Kenya this October.

Kenya is pleased to host this 13th global event. It is the first time in over thirty years the World Potato Congress will be held in an East African country. The event will bring together a truly global audience. It offers a unique platform to connect with industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from across the potato value chain.

Delegates to the World Potato Congresses, a biennial event which has been hosted on every potato growing continent over the past 30 plus years, are able to sample the unique varieties and flavours of local potato culture. As this year’s host, Kenya looks forward to sharing potato dishes at networking events and the gala dinner.

In Central Kenya, people do not simply say potato. They say Waru. It is a word that carries weight. From traditional dowry ceremonies to Sunday feasts, if there is no Waru on the table, is it even a celebration? Any Kenyan will tell you that this specific stew is a staple at any party.

Ever wonder why Kenyan potatoes have that incredible earthy richness? It is all about the altitude. Kenyan potatoes grow in the volcanic soils of the Rift Valley at 1,500 to 3,000 metres above sea level. That cool highland breeze is exactly what the tubers need. Delegates attending the 13th World Potato Congress in Kenya from October 26 to 30 will have the opportunity to experience the rich earth and put their hands in the soil during the post-Congress Field Tour.

The World Potato Congress Inc. and the UNECE invite the global potato community and interested bodies to participate in an upcoming panel on the newly adopted UNECE Standard for Seed Potatoes. The UNECE Standard for Seed Potatoes provides a common language and minimum quality requirements used by government authorities, seed growers, exporters, and buyers worldwide.

Originally developed in 1968, the Standard has evolved to reflect advances in science, production systems, and international trade. Following an extensive review process launched in 2022, a fully revised version was adopted in late 2025 after broad technical consultation. The updated Standard further clarifies certification processes, inspection approaches, disease and pest management provisions, and traceability and labeling requirements across the supply chain.

The World Potato Congress Kenya 2026, running from October 26 to 30, promises to be a landmark event for the global potato industry. With the launch of the International Potato Working Groups, the Congress will leave a lasting legacy of collaboration and innovation. Potato growers, researchers, marketers, and processors from around the world will gather in Kenya to share knowledge, build partnerships, and shape the future of the industry. The countdown to October has begun.

https://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/World-Potato-Congress-Kenya-2026-1024x634.jpghttps://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/World-Potato-Congress-Kenya-2026-150x150.jpgFarmersTrend# TrendingThe World Potato Congress Inc. has officially launched its International Potato Working Groups. This marks a significant development for the global potato industry. For over three decades, starting in the early 1990s, the World Potato Congress Inc. has traveled around the globe. It has provided networking and educational opportunities...New Generation Culture in Agriculture