The submission window for late poster abstracts for the 13th World Potato Congress (WPC) 2026 officially closed in August as preparations gather pace for the global event, which will take place from 26 to 30 October 2026 at Sawela Lodges in Naivasha, Kenya.
In another major milestone ahead of the Congress, the full WPC 2026 programme is now live, giving participants an opportunity to explore the week-long agenda and begin planning their experience.
Under the theme, “Global Potato Partnership for Enhanced Food Systems, Nutrition Security and Trade,” WPC 2026 will bring together farmers, researchers, policymakers, industry leaders and other stakeholders from across the global potato value chain for a week of knowledge sharing, innovation, collaboration and networking.
The newly released programme features International Working Groups and thematic workshops, plenary presentations from global industry leaders and experts, expert-led technical sessions and panel discussions, as well as discussions addressing the future of potato production, food systems, nutrition, climate resilience and trade.
Participants will also have opportunities for international networking and business engagement, alongside the WPC 2026 Farmers’ Field Day at FreshCrop and technical tours showcasing Kenya’s potato industry.
Kenya is privileged to host this landmark event as the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to host the World Potato Congress. The country is among the leading potato producers in the region and the leading producer in Eastern Africa, making it a strategic and fitting host for this global gathering.
The Congress theme also aligns strongly with Kenya’s national development priorities under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), where the potato has been identified as a strategic food and high-impact value chain with significant potential to enhance food security, improve rural livelihoods and drive agro-industrial development.
With the late poster abstract submission period now concluded and the full programme available, attention now turns to participation as the countdown to the Congress continues. Potato stakeholders from Kenya and around the world are invited to register and take part in the discussions, knowledge exchange and innovations that will help shape the future of the global potato sector.
The global potato community is coming to Kenya. Register now; World Potato Congress 2026, and explore the full programme https://wpc2026kenya.com/program/ and be part of WPC2026.
