Over 10.000 visitors at Potato Europe 2012

PotatoEurope 2012 hosted more than 10,000 visitors over the 12th and 13th of September in Villers-Saint-Christophe, Aisne department, France, surpassing the goals set by ARVALIS and its partners.

The potato sector demonstrated its modernity and expertise along with the appeal of its produce with French professionals and a rapidly growing international audience.

Technological innovation dedicated to quality

One of the many reasons for this success is the strong appeal of new potato harvesting equipment: 14 potato harvesting sites, 5 grading sites and 5 tuber optical sorting chains. This showcase of technological innovation, ever focused on preserving tuber quality, provides producers with an opportunity to form opinions and decide on their future investments. Other new developments revealed by the Profils d’Or awards organised by the UNPT (French National Union of Potato Producers) include a new system for the conservation of tubers in ethylene and the electro-pneumatic control of spray nozzles, which serves as proof that precision agriculture is indeed a reality. Visitors had the opportunity to talk with experts from ARVALIS - Institut du végétal and its partners about innovations in genetics, agronomy, crop prophylaxis and energy saving during storage. ARVALIS is continuing to develop decision-making tools to improve the efficiency of the practices followed (e.g. Mileos® for protection against mildew, Irré-LIS® for irrigation management). Several hundred agricultural school and university students were also able to benefit from all of these presentations

A trade show of ever-growing proportions

250 exhibitors (25% more than in 2008) were there to welcome their customers, making PotatoEurope an important trade show. The tremendous momentum of the plant sector as well as the consumer potato trade, with France as the leading European exporter, and transformation industries attracted a wide international audience. Almost 40% of visitors, a large number of whom came from the Benelux, Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as 50 other countries spread over five different continents, came to exchange ideas at the show. The French potato sector reinforced its vitality, the relevance of its research and the quality of its produce.

A sector-wide approach

PotatoEurope 2012 was organised by ARVALIS - Institut du végétal and supported by the CNIPT (French National Interprofessional Potato Committee), the Aisne department and Picardy Regional Council, in collaboration with the entire sector: FN3PT, GNIS, UNPT, FELCOOP, GIPT, FEDEPOM. The organisers would like to thank the exhibitors and visitors who helped make PotatoEurope 2012 a success.

PotatoEurope 2013 will run from the 11th to the 12th of September 2013 in Emmeloord, The Netherlands.
 

Potato Europe Emmeloord: "The next level"