NAIVASHA, KENYA — Along the volcanic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley, the cool morning mist rising from Lake Naivasha carries an unmistakable sense of anticipation. At Sawela Lodges and Convention Centre, teams are finalizing exhibition layouts, logistics routes, accommodation plans, and field demonstration sites in preparation for what is expected to become a defining moment in African agriculture: the 13th World Potato Congress (WPC 2026).

For the first time in the Congress’s more than three-decade history, the world’s premier potato industry gathering will be hosted in Sub-Saharan Africa. Scheduled for 26–30 October 2026, the event represents far more than a change of venue. It signals a broader shift in the geography of global agriculture, with attention increasingly turning toward the rapidly growing food systems and agricultural markets of Africa.

More than 1,000 international delegates from over 60 countries, alongside an estimated 1,500 farmers and industry stakeholders from across Africa, are expected to converge in Naivasha. Momentum is building rapidly following the Congress preview webinar held on 18 June and ahead of the early-bird registration deadline, reflecting growing international interest in Africa’s potato economy.

A Crop at the Centre of Food Security

As climate change places increasing pressure on traditional cereal production systems, the potato has emerged as one of the world’s most strategic food crops. Highly productive, nutritionally rich, and adaptable to diverse environments, potatoes are increasingly recognized as a critical component of future food security.

Across East Africa, the crop has evolved from a subsistence staple into a major commercial enterprise supporting millions of smallholder farmers, traders, processors, and transporters. This growing importance was highlighted during the United Nations’ Third International Day of the Potato in May, where global leaders emphasized the potato’s role in combating hunger, improving nutrition, and strengthening rural economies.

For Africa, the Congress arrives at a pivotal moment. The continent faces the dual challenge of feeding a rapidly growing population while creating economic opportunities for rural communities. Organizers believe the event can help accelerate both objectives by bringing global expertise, technology, investment, and market linkages directly to African producers.

Connecting Global Expertise with African Opportunity

The Congress programme reflects a deliberate effort to bridge international industry leadership with African agricultural transformation.

Among the headline speakers is Prof. Hamadi Boga, Vice President for Program Delivery at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), who is expected to address issues ranging from climate-smart agriculture and seed systems to value-chain development and farmer productivity.

Representing the global commercial sector will be Jamey Higham, President and CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission in the United States. His presentations will explore how successful potato industries have leveraged branding, processing, quality standards, and export marketing to create globally competitive sectors.

Together, these perspectives will examine one of the most important questions facing African agriculture today: how can countries move beyond primary production and build high-value processing industries that generate jobs, reduce losses, and increase farmer incomes?

From Research to Results in the Field

A defining feature of WPC 2026 will be its emphasis on practical application.

Congress Program Co-Chair Dr. Dinah Jeruto Borus, widely known among farming communities as “Mama Viazi” (Mother of Potatoes), has outlined an ambitious programme of field demonstrations, technical tours, and farmer-focused learning events designed to showcase innovations already delivering results in African conditions.

Hosted in partnership with FreshCrop Limited, one of East Africa’s leading seed potato enterprises, delegates will have the opportunity to observe technologies and production systems operating under real-world farming conditions.

Key innovations include:

Rooted Apical Cuttings (RAC)

A breakthrough seed multiplication technology that dramatically accelerates the production of clean planting material, reducing the time required to scale improved varieties.

Aeroponic Seed Production Systems

Advanced soil-free propagation systems that improve efficiency, reduce disease transmission, and enhance seed quality.

Climate-Smart Storage Solutions

Affordable storage technologies designed to minimize post-harvest losses and maintain quality throughout the marketing season.

Integrated Pest and Disease Management

Demonstrations showcasing new approaches to combating major threats such as Potato Cyst Nematodes and Late Blight through resistant varieties, improved agronomy, and enhanced biosecurity measures.

A Regional Opportunity for East Africa

Although Kenya serves as host, the benefits of the Congress are expected to extend well beyond its borders.

Across East Africa, governments, private-sector actors, researchers, and farmer organizations are mobilizing to maximize participation. The event presents a unique opportunity for regional stakeholders to establish partnerships, attract investment, access new technologies, and strengthen cross-border trade.

In Tanzania, interest is particularly strong as potato production expands within key agricultural growth corridors. Industry leaders view the Congress as an opportunity to connect Tanzanian farmers and agribusinesses with global seed suppliers, processors, equipment manufacturers, researchers, and investors.

The Potato Council of Tanzania (PCT) is among the organizations encouraging broad participation to ensure Tanzanian stakeholders benefit from emerging opportunities in seed systems, processing, logistics, and regional market integration.

The Congress is also expected to stimulate dialogue around harmonized phytosanitary standards and regional trade frameworks that could help unlock greater movement of seed, technologies, and potato products across East Africa.

More Than a Conference

For five days in October, Naivasha will become the global capital of the potato industry.

Delegates will engage in scientific discussions, investment forums, trade negotiations, technology showcases, and field visits. Yet the significance of the event extends beyond conference halls and exhibition booths.

WPC 2026 represents recognition that Africa is no longer simply a recipient of agricultural innovation. Increasingly, the continent is becoming a driver of innovation, investment, and growth in global food systems.

When the Congress concludes on 30 October, its lasting legacy will not be measured solely by attendance figures or business deals signed. Its true impact will be reflected in the technologies adopted, partnerships formed, investments mobilized, and productivity gains achieved across African farms in the years ahead.

As the world searches for sustainable solutions to food security, climate resilience, and rural prosperity, the humble potato may prove to be one of Africa’s most powerful tools for transformation—and Naivasha could be remembered as the place where that transformation accelerated onto the global stage.