Potato World vision Seed potato market benefits from stability There seems to be a strong urge to expand the cultivation of seed potatoes. While the area had already increased enormously last year, for the 2010 harvest another thousand hectares were planted. In the previous season, a record tonnage was exported. Analysis of export figures shows that a reduction in the European region has taken place, but that the overseas exports have increased considerably. Zooming in on those figures a little more, we can conclude that the Algerian market in particular has played an important role in the sale of potatoes. It is a Spunta country par excellence. The price level of the 2009 harvest was only average. When focusing on the following season, one might expect that the current expansion will considerably drain market confidence. It is, of course, still too early in the growing season to draw any conclusions, but the rapidly expanding market is worrying. The market saw many new varieties being introduced, while many also quietly left that same market. The latest variety with the best characteristics is launched with great ceremony only to disappear from the market not much later. The causes are diverse: disappointing crop characteristics, distribution problems, bad storage properties, and so on. When introductions are not successful, no one benefits. Not the breeder, not the farmer, not the merchant and, naturally, not the consumer. It causes unrest in the market and that almost automatically leads to lower prices. We are, of course, also in favour of replacing some of the present varieties but this should be done with great care. New varieties should really add to the current variety range. Is it merely a substitute Bintje or Spunta? Then a new introduction will not make any sense. New introductions should be the result of well-considered decisions and not of opportunism. This is in everyone’s interests. The seed potato market benefits from stability. Steady acreages, a steady quality and a steady variety range. Joris van der Lee Sales Director Agroplant PW-ACTUA NAO seed potato team at full strength again With the arrival of Sierd Folkertsma, the seed potato team is at full strength again, which consists further of NAO Director René van Diepen, NAO Secretary Jan Gottschall and NIVAP Country Manager Hans Peeten. As per 1 May 2010, the Netherlands Potato Consultative Foundation (NIVAP) is at full strength again after appointing Sierd Folkertsma (48). Folkertsma takes the job that became vacant following the resignation of Eerik Schipper. With the arrival of Sierd Folkertsma, the seed potato team is at full strength again. Other members of the team are NAO director René van Diepen, NAO Secretary Jan Gottschall and NIVAP Country Manager Hans Peeten. Folkertsma is a familiar figure in the international agricultural sector. He studied at Wageningen University, among other places, and specialised there in Plant Pathology majoring in Nematology, Theoretical Production Ecology, Entomology and Weed Science. In his working career, he has held several national and international positions including posts at Groupe Limagrain and Syngenta Seeds. He acquired a great deal of knowledge at these companies regarding matters such as international Plant breeders’ rights, according to the Dutch Potato Organisation (NAO) – of which the NIVAP is part. ● Potato World 2010 • number 3 7 Pagina 6
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