News on The Potato Supply Chain from Europe

The potato late blight pathogen. (Courtesy: Jens Gronbech Hasen / EuroBlight)

May 07, 2019

Potato Blight Trends in Europe: EuroBlight 2018 Results

EuroBlight is continuously examining the ongoing evolution of the European population of the potato late blight pathogen and now reports on the 2018 results. Approximately 1000 samples were genotyped from 22 countries.

May 06, 2019

Fraud with seed potato certificates in the Netherlands and Belgium shocks the sector

Shortly after it became clear that falsified seed potatoes certificates were in circulation in the Netherlands and Belgium, Breeders Trust, in cooperation with NAK, identified the perpetrators and was able to enact a confession from the guilty parties.

Ray Andrews of Crop Systems with the firm's new web-based potato store controller called SmartStor.

April 29, 2019

UK potato store operators ill-informed on energy use

Many potato store operators could make significant savings in energy costs if they obtained more usage data to make informed decisions, according to Ray Andrews of Crop Systems Limited.

British potato stock levels were down 13 per cent on the five-year average.

April 26, 2019

British Potato stocks down 13% on five-year average

The latest estimates from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) show British potato stock levels were down 13 per cent on the five-year average. However, comparable to other tight supply seasons, they were a little higher.

April 25, 2019

Dry weather drives smart irrigation in the United Kingdom

The Environment Agency in the UK has already declared irrigation prospects ‘moderate to poor’ in the East of England – in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex. AHDB offers suggestions to place farmers in a stronger position this summer.

April 24, 2019

Potato acreage in North-western Europe to grow between 1 and 2 percent, NEPG estimates

The NEPG (North-Western European Potato Growers) have estimated that the upcoming area for
consumption potatoes in 2019 will increase between 1 and 2 % towards almost 604.000 ha in the 5
main production countries.

Custom-built seed potato grading facility gives B&C Farming new life

April 16, 2019

Custom-built seed potato grading facility gets B&C Farming ready for the future

Tong Engineering designed and custom-built a seed potato grading facility for B&C Farming, based on the company's current and future requirements as specified by managing director Tony Bambridge

April 14, 2019

OC Verhulst and Mooij Agro offer you full control over your agricultural crop with the VaccTek® Condenser Dryer

OC Verhulst, since many years the manufacturer of air handling units of outstanding quality, found Mooij Agro as her partner to sell and support the VaccTek® Condenser Dryer; the all-in-one machine for the storage of agricultural crops.

April 11, 2019

UK needs major overhaul of investments in weed management

The UK’s approach to weed management investment needs to be overhauled, if the needs of industry are to be met. That was the conclusion of the first ever major cross-sector review of weed management, commissioned by AHDB and BBRO.

April 02, 2019

Dewulf is fully prepared for a successful future

Dewulf, full-liner in agricultural machines for potatoes and carrots, receives a capital injection by family shareholders Hendrik Decramer and Thomas Decan, in collaboration with investor Jan Clarebout.

March 29, 2019

Belgian potato processing industry processed over 5 million tonnes of potatoes in 2018

The potato processing industry in Belgium registered record growth and processed over 5 million tonnes of potatoes in 2018. However, in 2019 the sector faces major challenges as a result of the poor harvest in 2018

March 29, 2019

Tolsma-Grisnich and Grimme Scandinavia start collaboration in Scandinavia to meet demand for complete potato projects

Demand is increasing for complete projects for potatoes from planting through to storage and processing. To respond to that need Tolsma-Grisnich and Grimme Scandinavia have joined forces to become a reliable ‘total partner’ for the Scandinavian market.

March 10, 2019

Low potato yields result in a excellent financial performance for seed potato supplier HZPC

Seed potato supplier HZPC Holland has established the expected prices it will pay to its growers and the organisation expects to pay its Dutch growers a record price of € 41,- per 100 kilo

February 28, 2019

Belgian potato supply chain commits to digital data platform WatchITgrow

Three Belgian organisations, Boerenbond, Belgapom and VITO are teaming up to strengthen the future of the Belgian potato chain by jointly investing in the online data platform WatchITgrow.

February 27, 2019

Belarus looking to export potatoes to the European Union

Belarus plans to get domestic potato producers certified for compliance with the EU requirements, according to Aleksei Bogdanov, Head of the Central Office for Foreign Economic Activities of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry

February 26, 2019

UK potato chips prices surge after heatwave-induced potato shortage

Crisps fans in the United Kingdom might have noticed that their favourite snack has become a little more expensive in recent months.

February 26, 2019

Danish potato trader found guilty in illegal import of minitubers

Breeders Trust, the organization that defends the Plant Breeders’ Rights of 10 leading European potato breeders, won a lawsuit earlier this month against the Danish potato export and trading company Myco Seed A/S located in Give (Denmark).

February 25, 2019

Not enough support for European ban on potato sprout inhibitor Chlorpropham (CIPC)

Last Friday, the European Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, mostly referred to as ScoPAFF voted an a proposal to ban Chlorpropham (or CIPC), widely used in the potato industry as sprout inhibitor during potato storage.