AgriCord, together with four of its agri-agencies, Trias, Food and Forest Development Finland (FFD), Agriterra and Fert, and their partner Farmers’ Organisations Fifata, ZODFA, NADO and Starlight Cooperative, will participate in the 13th World Potato Congress 2026 in Naivasha, Kenya.
For AgriCord, the Congress is part of a broader learning and knowledge-sharing trajectory designed around three moments: before, during and after the event. The objective is to bring farmers’ experiences into global discussions and, in return, share lessons from the Congress with a wider network of Farmers’ Organisations and partners.
Before the Congress: learning from farmers
The trajectory will start on 13 October 2026 (2-3:30 pm UTC+2) with a webinar entitled “Seeds of Resilience: Building Sustainable Potato Seed Systems for Smallholder Farmers.”
The webinar will focus on one of the key challenges faced by potato farmers: access to reliable, affordable and timely quality planting material. Farmers’ Organisations and their partners will share experiences on seed production, quality assurance, local multiplication, farmer-managed systems and partnerships with research and certification institutions.
Register to the webinar 1: Webinar Registration - Zoom
At the World Potato Congress
How can potato farming remain productive, profitable and resilient in a changing climate? AgriCord’s panel, “Climate-Resilient Practices in Potato Farming”, will explore practical farmer-led solutions and the partnerships needed to expand their impact.
Wednesday, 28 October 2026 | 11:45–12:30 Kenya time
The discussion will examine access to quality seed, regenerative farming, soil and water management, and land restoration. Panellists will explore the benefits and trade-offs of climate-smart practices, alongside the role of green enterprises and financing in supporting resilient farms and rural livelihoods.
A central question will be how Farmers’ Organisations can strengthen knowledge exchange, collective investment and farmers’ position in sustainable potato value chains. The panel will also consider the long-term investments and collaboration needed to take successful approaches beyond individual projects.
Moderated by Peter van Erum (Trias), the panel will bring together:
- Thiago Mendes — International Potato Center (CIP)
- Denis Griffin — Teagasc
- Laureen Njuguna — Starlight Cooperative
- Richard Nsamba — Trias
Join the discussion to exchange experiences and explore how farmers, researchers, development partners and the private sector can work together towards more resilient potato production. Participants are also welcome to visit AgriCord’s booth to meet the alliance and learn more about its members’ work.
After the Congress: sharing the lessons
Following the event, AgriCord will organise a second public webinar to reflect on the main lessons from the World Potato Congress and discuss how they can be applied in different contexts.
Through this before-during-after approach, AgriCord aims to make participation in the Congress a continuous learning process, connecting farmers’ realities with international dialogue and bringing new knowledge back to Farmers’ Organisations.