Czech Republic

Potato cultivation in the Czech Republic is concentrated in regions with favorable conditions, particularly the Vysočina region (Bohemian-Moravian Highlands), which stands out as the country’s leading potato-producing area. Other key regions include South Bohemia, Central Bohemia, and parts of Moravia, all characterized by optimal altitudes ranging from 300 to 600 meters above sea level, moderate climates, and fertile soils ideal for potato farming. Commonly grown varieties include Adéla, Agria, Marabel, Red Anna, Jelly, Laura, Impala, Belana, and Ditta, which support both table and processing markets.

The Potato Research Institute (PRI) in Havlíčkův Brod, active since 1923, plays a central role in the sector by overseeing breeding, varietal evaluation, seed certification, genetic conservation, and crop protection. The institute maintains an extensive in-vitro gene bank with approximately 1,300 accessions and specializes in advanced research areas such as marker-assisted selection, resistance breeding, viral diagnostics, and sustainable cultivation technologies. Vysočina is particularly noted for high-quality seed potato production, contributing to the Czech Republic’s strong reputation in certified seed systems. According to FAO statistics, the Czech Republic produced approximately 573,770 tonnes of potatoes in 2023.

Potatoes were first cultivated in Bohemia in the mid-18th century, around 1758 to 1760, on the Schwarzenberg estates near Český Krumlov, initially used primarily as animal fodder and treated with suspicion due to their association with the nightshade family. However, their role began to shift following the devastating Great Famine of 1770–1771, which claimed approximately 12 percent of the population, around 500,000 lives, prompting a rapid expansion in potato planting to enhance food security.

By the 19th century, potatoes had become a vital food crop, supported by formal agricultural efforts such as the establishment of a field station in Valečov in 1863 for research and experimentation. After Czechoslovakia gained independence in the early 1920s, a private Potato Research Institute was established and soon nationalized, focusing on breeding, cultivation practices, and processing innovations such as starch and alcohol production.

From 1938 to 1951, the sector underwent significant expansion and institutional restructuring, with integrated breeding programs and field experiments, leading to peak potato acreage of nearly half a million hectares. Post-1990s, research continued under the Potato Research Institute in Havlíčkův Brod, emphasizing genetic improvement, disease resistance, and the development of new varieties like the antioxidant-rich Val Blue, maintaining the Czech Republic’s long-standing leadership in potato science and innovation.