Tigran Richter (President Europatat)
“The 2026 Europatat Congress will be a milestone edition for our sector. By returning to Brussels, at the heart of the European Union, the Congress will offer a unique platform for dialogue between the European potato trade, EU institutions and policymakers. At a pivotal moment for agriculture, trade and sustainability, it will be an essential forum to exchange views and ensure our sector’s voice is clearly heard.”
Europatat Congress public session
Venue: Radisson Collection Hotel Grand Place Brussels
More details and speakers’ names will be announced soon
Friday 24 May
- 10:00h – 10:30h: Registration and welcome coffee
- 10:30h – 11:30h: ADAPT session
- Moderated by Romans Vorss, Technical Affairs Director at Europatat
- Presentation scientific results of the project by Markus Teige, Senior Lecturer at the University of Vienna, and Rashmi Sasidharan, Professor at Utrecht University
- Presentation practical results of the project by Guus Heselmans, manager R&D, Meijer Potato
- Panel discussion “Where next?” with the presence of previous speakers, and Christian Bachem, Wageningen Research, and Gisela Quaglia, DG Agriculture – European Commission
- 11:30h – 11:45: Coffee break
- 11.45h – 13.00h: Opening session & Keynote speech
- Welcome by Moderator: Rose O’Donovan, EU agri journalist and Editor of AGRA FACTS
- Opening speech by Tigran Richter, President Europatat
- “How to stay relevant for people and society tomorrow and the day after tomorrow”, keynote speech by Rik Vera, Author, futurologist, business philosopher and keynote speaker
- 13:00h – 14:30h: Presentation by Platinum Sponsor followed by networking lunch
- “MELENDEZ X RE EVOLUTION” by Sergio Calvo Fernández, Chief information Officer Patatas Meléndez
- 14:30h – 15:55h: Focus session “European Potato Trade in 2030: a sector in transition”
- Introductory speech by Pierre Bascou, Director for Markets and acting Deputy Director-General for Markets and International at DG Agri – European Commission
- Panel discussion with the participation of:
- Klaus Berend, Director for the Directorate Food Safety, Sustainability and Innovation at DG Sante – European Commission
- Lieven Van Waes, Agronomist / Senior Policy Advisor at the Flemish Agency for Agriculture and Fisheries in Belgium
- Erika den Daas, Manager Director at Meijer Potato
- Santiago Campos Martínez, Policy Advisor at ASAJA Brussels Office to the EU
- 15:55h – 16:00h: Closing and announcement Europatat’s actions for the International Day of Potato
- Berta Redondo Benito, Secretary General Europatat
- 16:00h – 17:00h: Farewell drinks