Switzerland's potato harvest hits 60-year low after hot summer

Switzerland is harvesting its smallest potato crop on record this year, with 333,000 tonnes, nearly 20 percent below the six-year average, due to a hot summer and prolonged drought. Experts cite the heatwave and dry spells as the main cause. Yield per hectare fell to 29.4 tonnes from the 2020–2025 average of 37.9 tonnes, with lower levels last seen in 1965. Potatoes are also smaller, though quality remains good. Swisspatat forecasts a 130,000-tonne shortfall for 2026, requiring imports and lowering self-sufficiency to 70–75 percent, potentially raising prices. Irrigated fields yielded 55 percent more, and the industry is promoting robust varieties, with a target of 80 percent resilient crops by 2040.