Association: Also in Brandenburg, Potato Surplus to be Distributed - Brandenburg’s potato glut sparks calls for food redistribution over waste
A surplus of potatoes in Brandenburg has sparked calls for urgent action. With prices dropping and tons of produce left unsold, welfare groups are pushing for a better way to use the extra harvest. The Volkssolidarität Brandenburg is now demanding a statewide plan to distribute the food to those in need rather than letting it go to waste.
Farmers in Brandenburg harvested 403,100 metric tons of potatoes across 11,400 hectares in 2025. But with a glut in the market, much of the crop remains unsold and stored, pushing prices down. The Volkssolidarität Brandenburg has criticised the idea of burning or discarding edible food while people still rely on food assistance.
The BBU (Brandenburgische Bauern- und Verbrauchergenossenschaft Union) has already announced plans to distribute surplus potatoes to social institutions, kindergartens, and schools. Meanwhile, a Berlin initiative backed by the Berliner Morgenpost and Ecosia aims to give away 4 million kilos of potatoes for free to prevent spoilage. Henrik Wendorff, president of the Brandenburg Farmers’ Association, acknowledged the proposal but warned that it is not a long-term fix for farmers. Despite the short-term relief, he stressed that the industry needs more sustainable solutions.
The push for redistribution comes as surplus potatoes sit unused in storage. Welfare groups and local initiatives are now working to ensure the food reaches those who need it most. The state is under pressure to develop a lasting plan for managing future harvest gluts.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
