IPPSC 2012 Update

With the 2012 International Potato Processing and Storage Convention just over a month away, more top-class speakers have been added to the programme to ensure the event will offer added value to delegates.

Opening proceedings on the speaker programme will be Rod Herbert, chairman and founder of RJ Herbert Engineering, talking about his 40 years of potato handling experience and how the industry has changed in that time. He will also address the impact of technology and future challenges for the industry as a whole.

He will be followed by a host of academic/research speakers including Barbara Daniels-Lake from Canada's Agri-food;Joe Guenthner from the University of Idaho;Joe Sowokinos, Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota and Adrian Briddon from Sutton Bridge Crop Research.

Further industry viewpoints on the storage-focus day will include speakers from Omnivent (The Netherlands);TomTen Ltd (Japan) and Xeda (France).

Day two (Wednesday, June 27) will include a 'case study' on the potato business in the European Union from Belgapom's secretary-general Romain Cools and an acrylamide update from Novozymes expert Hanne Vang Hendrikssen.

Latvian potato processor Dr Ilgvars Krumins from Latfood will also be speaking on the Latvian potato processing industry and its progress over the past few years.

Equipment experts Roel Molenaers from BEST Sorting and Govert van Drunen of Key Technology will also be presenting while academic input will come from the Latvia University of Agriculture's Irisa Murniece who will discuss her research into conventional and organic potatoes for processing.

The beautifully sited Radisson Blu Daugava, overlooking the River Daugava, is the conference venue and is well situated for evening trips into the historic 'old town'.

The third day of the convention will see delegates on a 'field trip to a Latvian potato processor.