BRUSSELS

Belgium is grappling with an unprecedented potato surplus, with 860,000 tons of unsold potatoes in storage, according to the VRT broadcaster.

Figures from the agricultural magazine Vilt show potato stocks are 21% higher than the average for the past three years, partly due to expanded cultivation in recent years.

"Oversupply happens every few years, but this crisis is unprecedented. We've never seen it this bad," Guy Depraetere, a potato expert at the General Farmers' Syndicate (ABS) told VRT.

The growth of Belgium's fries industry had encouraged farmers to plant more potatoes, while processing companies expanded production and built stronger relationships with growers.

As a result, potato acreage in Belgium reached a record 107,000 hectares (264,000 acrea) last year, up from around 95,000 hectares just a few years ago.

But demand for potatoes has fallen by 5% to 10%, according to agricultural experts, creating an imbalance in the market.

The surplus has pushed prices down. Potatoes sold outside processing contracts currently fetch about €12.50 ($14.56) per 100 kilograms (220 pounds), down from €18 in 2023.

Overflowing storage facilities, combined with the upcoming harvest in July, are raising concerns about financial difficulties for arable farmers.

The ABS urged farmers earlier this year to reduce potato production by around 20%.

For now, the fate of surplus potatoes remains uncertain. Increasing fry production is not a solution, as companies process only contracted quantities.

In the best-case scenario, potatoes may be used as animal feed or converted into biogas, offering minimal financial return.

In the worst case, they may be plowed back into fields, risking fungal contamination that can damage other crops.