World Potato Congress Opens in Kenya
Delegates from nearly 70 countries gathered in Naivasha, Kenya, for the 13th World Potato Congress, which runs through October 30, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Botany
The 13th World Potato Congress opened in Naivasha, Kenya, on October 26, 2026, bringing together delegates from nearly 70 countries. The five-day event is held on the shores of Lake Naivasha in Kenya's Nakuru County.
Why it matters
The Congress is intended to strengthen international cooperation in agricultural development and potato-sector innovation. Its theme centers on the potato's role in food systems, nutrition security and international trade.
Delegates from nearly 70 countries are attending the five-day Congress, with eight of ten organization directors and eight of nine international advisers present at the pre-event Board meeting. The reported figures cover attendance only, and no outcomes from the sessions have been published.
The players
Mutahi Kagwe
Mutahi Kagwe is Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, a senior government post overseeing the country's farming and livestock policy.
The details
Six thematic workshops on potato-sector topics were held on October 26, 2026, and all rooms reached capacity. Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, attended the opening reception as guest of honour, which featured acrobatic performances and traditional Maasai and Isukuti dances.
Timeline
Sunday, October 25, 2026: Board and International Advisers meeting held in Kenya.
October 26, 2026: Thematic workshops held and the Congress opened.
October 26 to 30, 2026: World Potato Congress 2026 takes place in Naivasha.
Big Picture
The 13th edition continues the World Potato Congress series, and its thematic workshops were added in response to recommendations from delegates at earlier Congresses. The Congress is positioned as a forum for advancing the potato's role in food systems, nutrition security and trade.
Readers following potato production or trade can track the Congress's follow-up discussions, which will continue through online collaboration. The workshops' outcomes may inform how potato-sector practices and partnerships develop in the coming months.
The takeaway
International potato-sector cooperation is being pursued through shared workshops and continued online collaboration after the event. Stakeholders across food systems, nutrition and trade have a forum for exchanging ideas on the crop.
Further reading
For more on the plant science behind crops like this, explore Botany.
More information
Read the full World Potato Congress 2026 opening report on PotatoPro.
