Potato is a major crop in Denmark. Seed potatoes are produced and traded to warmer areas for production of earlies as well as for domestic production of potatoes for the consumers and for a thriving starch industry.

The Danish certification programme for seed potatoes is based on strict rules according to a Ministerial order, and ensures that the Danish seed potatoes are virtually free from most of the serious pests commonly found in other parts of the world. An active meristem culture programme renews the planting stock at regular intervals, and field inspections rough out infected plants. Presence of potato cyst nematodes is monitored each year in all fields for seed potatoes, and infected areas are banned from production of potatoes. A monitoring programme is looking for ‘new' pests, e. g. Rhizomania and extensive surveys for potato diseases such as  ring- and brownrot) are carried out, so that potential outbreaks can be stopped and eradicated within a limited area.

The Plant Directorate collaborates with Danish Agricultural Advisory Service (Dansk Landbrugscenter) on the inspection of basic material, while later generations of potatoes are inspected by Plant Directorate staff.

Earlies and ware potatoes are sold locally and exported to neighbouring countries. Denmark is the third largest producer in the world of starch made from potatoes. Varieties for starch production provide more than 80% of the total production.

Aquavit as well as starch for industrial purposes are important products made from potatoes.

Import of potatoes to Denmark follows the EU rules for import of live plant material.