News on The Potato Supply Chain from Europe

Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera rostochiensis)

October 01, 2012

PCN resistance among targets of new potato breeding business in the UK

Plant breeding business KWS marked its formal entry into potato breeding in the UK last week, with a demonstration of up-and-coming varieties and an outline of its key breeding objectives for the potato crop.

September 24, 2012

United Kingdom Seed potato industry sets new export record

The UK seed potato industry is on a high as Potato Council has announced another record year for seed exports, with this year’s figures surpassing 103,000 tonnes. “This year, despite the testing conditions experienced by growers, we have achieved ano...

September 23, 2012

FAO lanza encuesta sobre manejo de los recursos fitogeneticos en fincas

En 2011, la Comisión de Recursos Genéticos para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (la Comisión) destacó la necesidad de prestar mayor atención a aquellos cultivos que son esenciales para la seguridad alimentaria y manejo en las fincas de los recursos fi...

September 23, 2012

Modern DNA Techniques Applied to Nineteenth-Century Potatoes

Researchers led by Professor Bruce Fitt, now at the University of Hertfordshire, have used modern DNA techniques on late nineteenth-century potatoes to show how the potato blight may have survived between cropping seasons after the Irish potato famine ...

September 23, 2012

Using sprouted potato seed brings benefits in the north of England

Physiological ageing of Markies potato seed can deliver benefits in terms of crop development, yield, quality and storage potential in the north of England. That was the message from McCain commercial agronomist Rob Blades to potato growers attending ...

North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG)

September 20, 2012

Potato Yield in North-west Europe down 14.5%, estimates NEPG

The North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG) estimate the potato yield in the participating countries (Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) will be 22.99 million tonnes. This is down 14.5% compared to last season.

September 19, 2012

Potato Yields in Norway lower

In Norway potato yields for 2012 are expected to be lower. The predictions are based on the potato yields from 90 different fields in the 7 most important potato districts in Norway and include a range of varieties. The potato yield predictions for 20...

September 19, 2012

Harvest woes for UK potato growers

A "perfect storm"of misery is hitting the potato sector as lifting slips further behind and prices fail to offset poor yields and quality and rising production costs. Crop clearance is more than three weeks behind schedule, with just 24,000h...

September 18, 2012

La salud europea está en riesgo por las grasas trans de la comida procesada

La salud del corazón de millones de europeos aún se encuentra en riesgo debido al alto contenido de ácidos grasos trans de algunos alimentos rápidos y procesados. Aunque los niveles globales han disminuido, pocos países tienen una limitación legal en l...

September 18, 2012

DuPont supports EFSA call for Potato Cyst Nematodes survey in EU

Sustainable potato production across the EU could be under threat from potato cyst nematodes (PCN) and free living nematodes (FLN) without a comprehensive review of sampling and management options.

September 13, 2012

Restrain wins Gold Medal Award at Potato Europe for Sustainable Production Techniques

The Restrain Company Ltd. have won the Gold Medal Award for Sustainable Production Techniques at the Potato Europe Fair 2012 in Villers Saint Christophe, France. Restrain offers an Ethylene Generator that produces low levels of ethylene.

September 09, 2012

Herbert launches Oculus optical sorting for washed potatoes at Potato Europe

Herbert Engineering is set to launch a optical sorting machine at Potato Europe. The Oculus is the next generation in high performance, compact, optical sorting for washed potatoes.

September 09, 2012

British potato breeding changing focus

The days of a few big varieties dominating the potato market are over, with breeding programmes becoming more focused on delivering sustainable varieties for specific markets.

September 05, 2012

Potato prices rise 450% in less than six months in Ireland

Potato prices have taken a dramatic turn with a 450pc increase in less than six months in Ireland.

September 05, 2012

Britain's seed potato community to come together at Seed Industry Event in November

GB’s seed potato community will be coming together to keep up-to-date on plant health and variety breeding at this year’s Seed Industry Event at Crieff Hydro near Perth, Scotland on November 20.

September 03, 2012

Increase in greenhouse gas positive for potato yield

The increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere can have a positive influence on the potato yield. This is according to Anton Haverkort of Plant Research International, part of Wageningen UR, on 22 August during the bi-annual Potato Demo Day at Westmaas.

September 03, 2012

British potato harvest running behind last season

Figures from the Potato Council Grower Panel Lifting Survey estimate that 16,000ha (13% of the total crop and 3,000ha greater than last week's estimate) was cleared to Friday 31 August, with the GB harvest running approximately three weeks behind last season.

September 02, 2012

Top speakers to attend first North West Potato Day in Britain

Potato growers are invited to the first North West Potato Day to be held at Aston Grange, Aston, Runcorn, Cheshire on September 18 to discuss with the experts some of the challenges they have faced this year.