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Germany's potato surplus puts the pinch on farmers

Emily Leshner in Gross Machnow, Germany
October 26, 2025

A record-high surplus of potatoes in Germany has driven down prices for consumers, but come at a big cost for farmers.

https://p.dw.com/p/52PWE

Germany's record-breaking potato harvest this year — 13 million tons — has driven down the prices for consumers. But for farmers, the potato surplus is proving costly.

Many planted more acreage after last year's high prices, only to be met with ideal growing conditions but no contracts to secure sales. Some have now been forced to repurpose or discard excess crop.

The situation highlights the risks of overproduction in agriculture, and the importance of market planning.

This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.