PotatoEurope 2026 is set to become Europe’s biggest live showcase of root crop machinery and technology as it returns to Germany on September 9–10, 2026.
Held at Rittergut Gestorf near Hanover, the event will bring together around 300 exhibitors and, for the first time, combine live demonstrations of both potato and sugar beet equipment in a single field event.
Organised by the German Agricultural Society (DLG), the exhibition is expected to attract growers, contractors, machinery dealers and agricultural professionals eager to see the latest advances in planting, harvesting, crop protection and precision farming technologies.
The addition of the new SugarBeet Expo alongside the long-established PotatoEurope event marks a significant milestone for Europe’s root crop sector, creating one of the continent’s most comprehensive practical demonstrations of modern crop production.
Live Machinery Demonstrations Take Centre Stage
A major attraction of PotatoEurope 2026 will be its extensive live machinery demonstrations, where visitors can compare equipment operating under real field conditions rather than relying solely on static displays.
Across the two-day event, approximately 50 demonstration machines and stationary units will showcase the complete production cycle for potatoes and sugar beet, from planting and sowing through to harvesting, transport, cleaning and loading.
The potato demonstrations will feature around 30 machines, including:
- Potato planters
- Single-row to four-row potato harvesters
- Transport equipment
- Cleaning systems
- Loading technology
Meanwhile, the sugar beet section will present 10 demonstration units, highlighting:
- Precision seed drills
- High-capacity sugar beet harvesters
- Transport solutions
- Cleaning equipment
- Loading systems
Visitors will also see 10 modern crop protection machines, including field sprayers, spot sprayers and precision application technologies designed to improve efficiency while reducing chemical use.
The demonstrations will run twice daily, giving visitors multiple opportunities to evaluate machine performance, harvesting quality, operational efficiency and soil protection capabilities.
Digital Farming and Agricultural Robotics in Focus
Beyond conventional machinery, PotatoEurope 2026 will place a strong emphasis on digital agriculture through the DLG Spotlight: Digital Farming powered by FarmRobotix.
The dedicated technology zone will showcase innovations in:
- Agricultural robotics
- Artificial intelligence
- Autonomous field machinery
- Digital farm management
- Precision agriculture
- Data-driven crop production
Live demonstrations and expert presentations will illustrate how automation is reshaping modern root crop farming by improving operational efficiency, increasing precision and supporting more sustainable production practices.
The FarmRobotix platform will also bring together machinery manufacturers, researchers, technology developers, investors and farmers to discuss the future of autonomous agriculture and digital farming systems.
Why the Event Matters
Mechanisation continues to play a critical role in helping farmers address rising labour costs, improve productivity and reduce input use.
Events such as PotatoEurope provide an opportunity for growers to compare competing technologies side by side and evaluate how new machinery performs under practical operating conditions.
The combination of potato and sugar beet technologies at a single event also reflects the increasing integration of precision agriculture, automation and intelligent machinery across Europe’s root crop industry.
Relevance for African Agriculture
Although PotatoEurope is primarily focused on European production systems, many of the technologies on display have growing relevance for commercial agriculture across Africa.
Countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria continue to invest in improved potato production systems, while precision spraying, digital farm management and autonomous machinery are becoming increasingly important as producers seek to improve yields and reduce production costs.
Many of the innovations expected at PotatoEurope—including AI-powered equipment, precision crop protection systems and advanced harvesting technologies—are likely to influence machinery development and adoption well beyond Europe.
Industry Partnerships
The State of Lower Saxony is serving as the exclusive partner for PotatoEurope and the SugarBeet Expo.
The event is organised in partnership with the Union of the German Potato Industry (UNIKA) and the Golden Geest Potato Producers’ Association for PotatoEurope, while the German Sugar Industry Association (WVZ) and Nordzucker AG support the SugarBeet Expo.
Case IH has been named the exclusive tractor partner for the 2026 edition.
With hundreds of exhibitors, dozens of live machinery demonstrations and a strong focus on digital farming, robotics and precision agriculture, PotatoEurope 2026 is expected to offer one of Europe’s most comprehensive showcases of technology for professional root crop production.
As automation and smart farming continue to transform agriculture worldwide, the innovations unveiled in Germany this September are likely to provide valuable insights for farmers, machinery dealers and agribusinesses across Europe and beyond.
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Martin is a writer at Agrimachinery Africa specializing in agricultural machinery, mechanization trends, and farm technology across Africa. His work focuses on tractors, harvesting equipment, irrigation systems, and emerging innovations helping farmers improve productivity and efficiency. Through in-depth industry coverage, he highlights technologies shaping the future of modern agriculture.