Potato News from Belgium

French Fry manufacturer Agristo is a relatively young family owned company, founded in 1985 by Antoon Wallays and Luc Raes. Rapidly growing from 20.000 tons, the company reached a volume of 185.000 tons finished product in 2008.

Heavy rain and frequent frost during the winter in most Mediterranean, Northern European and Middle Eastern countries has had a large effect on early potato production.Imports to European markets are later and lighter in volume than in most recent seas...

The European Snack Association (ESA) joins the EU pledge initiative.The EU Pledge is a commitment by leading food and beverage companies in Europe to change food and beverage advertising on TV, print and internet to children under the age of 12 in the ...

For the 3 months to 31 March 2010, PinguinLutosa recorded consolidated sales of 111.9 million euro, which represents an increase of 4.68%. Evolution of sales per division is as follows:   Non-audited management figures in euro 1 ...

Het areaal bewaaraardappelen in Vlaanderen stijgt dit oogstjaar met 7 procent, meldt het Proefcentrum voor de Aardappelteelt (PCA) in Kruishoutem op basis van een enquête.   Omdat aardappelverwerkers garantie van aanvoer willen, sluiten ze meer contrac...

Throughout Northern Europe early potato growers and traders, as well as new crop importers and exporters, are looking with interest at markets ahead. Most though remain uncertain regarding the likely availability of supplies and prices. Greater wastag...

Het duurt nog een aantal jaren voor de Europese Commissie een teelttoelating geeft voor de genetisch veranderde aardappel Modena van Avebe. Ondanks dat BASF de eerste teelttoelating heeft gekregen voor de genaardappel Amflora. Dat zegt onderzoekscoö...

The European Commission’s approval of BASF’s GM Amflora potato for cultivation in the EU could mark the end of European deadlock over genetic modification, and has been celebrated and decried with equal measure by commentators on both sides of the deba...

The European Union today approved the first new genetically modified (GM) crop for domestic growing in more than a decade, ending what has been a long stalemate over a backlog of GM crops awaiting cultivation approval.   The decision by the European C...

La Comisión Europea (CE) aprobó hoy el cultivo en la Unión Europea (UE) de una variedad de patata genéticamente modificada, fabricada por la empresa alemana BASF, la primera autorización del tipo concedida en los últimos 12 años. La patata Amflora pod...

The significant changes to cost of potato production for UK producers in the period 2007-2009, has left many potato growers questioning the pricing structure in North West Europe. Also, the ability of producers in France, Belgium and the Netherlands to...

Onderzoekers van de vakgroep Voedselveiligheid en Voedselkwaliteit van de UGent hebben innovatieve technieken ontwikkeld om het acrylamidegehalte in frietjes te verminderen. Acrylamide is een vermoedelijk kankerverwekkende stof die in meerdere voedings...

Carrefour, the world's No. 2 retailer, said it would cut jobs and close stores in Belgium to restore profitability in the country amid intense competition from local rivals.The plan calls for cutting 1,672 jobs and closing 21 stores in Belgium by end-J...

De moeilijke marktomstandigheden en de economische crisis hebben de aardappelverwerkende industrie in Noordwest-Europa vele tientallen miljoenen euro gekost. Verwacht wordt dat ook 2010 een moeilijk jaar blijft voor de aardappelverwerkers. “Onze marges...

Salt reduction initiatives are underway in all the EU member states under the EU framework, but public awareness raising and reformulation are patchy. The EU framework for national salt initiatives was adopted in 2008 by the High Level Group on Diet, P...

The start of 2010 brought wintry conditions across Northern Europe. As a result, potato markets in all the Northwest European Potato Growers (NEPG) 5 countries, firmed during early January.Supplies tightened as many growers were reluctant to open store...

2009 crop production estimates for Ware potatoes in the EU 5 countries are now complete.Reports from representatives of the Northwest European Potato Growers (NEPG) highlight the favourable growing conditions this season, despite the dry planting condi...

Als gevolg van de uitzonderlijk zachte temperaturen dreigen nogal wat aardappeltelers die hun aardappelen proberen te bewaren zonder een professionele bewaarplaats hun oogst te verliezen. Aardappelen die niet in geïsoleerde en klimaatgecontroleerde loo...