The French National Union of Potato Producers staged a symbolic protest in Paris, dumping nearly 30 tonnes of potatoes in front of the National Assembly of France to draw attention to the critical situation in the sector, ProAgro Group reports.
In a comment to BFM TV, UNPT President Geoffroy d’Evray said that the producers’ main demand is the ability to continue operating in France without excessive regulatory pressure. According to him, farmers have reached a point where production is becoming economically unviable, while existing standards increasingly undermine the competitiveness of French potatoes.
During the protest, part of the potatoes was distributed free of charge to passers-by on the Pont de la Concorde as a gesture of gratitude to citizens for their support. At the same time, the farmers used the action to publicly condemn the tightening of production requirements, which they believe threaten the very survival of the industry.
UNPT warns that unless current policies change, French producers may lose the ability to continue growing potatoes in their own country.
As previously reported, on January 8, 2026, French farmers brought dozens of tractors onto the streets of Paris, blocking access roads and central areas of the capital in protest against the large-scale EU–MERCOSUR trade agreement.
Source: FreshPlaza
