TRADE AND MARKETING Sustainability in 2016 is all about balance Martin Jansen Klomp, HZPC: ‘The variety determines 70 percent of the possibilities’ Martin Jansen Klomp of HZPC in Joure tells us that sustainability fits the HZPC mission statement extremely well. It specifies that the Frisian company wishes to contribute to the development of responsible food for an expanding world population. Sustainability is an important part in this. ‘In 2014 we published our first CSR report and our next report is planned for the beginning of 2016. This sets out what ambitions we have, where we are and what steps have been taken so far. Our sustainability principle is based on three pillars: care for the environment, food security, and social involvement. Sustainability not only concerns our own organisation, our growers and customers, but also the position of the potato as a sustainable food. We ourselves have already invested a great deal in potato promotion and the ‘Power to the Pieper’ project, in order to call attention to potatoes. Very important in this process is our variety breeding, as potato varieties form the basis of feeding the world. Our varieties need to perform successfully in different climate regions and therefore under different growing conditions. What’s more, the use of proper seed is another condition for good results. This means that, as regards varieties, you can describe them as being more, or less sustainable, depending on the conditions. In areas where sufficient rainfall means water is abundant, a variety that has been developed with anti-droughtstress qualities has less value in the domain of sustainability than in hot and dry North Africa. There are a few important, key themes highlighting various focal areas that fit the breeding and cultivation of sustainable varieties and that were publicised during the Potato Days. Think of fertilisation, water requirements, resistance to and control of diseases, yield, storage qualities and, naturally, suitability for the end user. If we’re talking about potatoes for the French-fry industry, we don’t just mean how many kilograms of potatoes per hectare, but the French-fry yield per hectare. Sustainability is therefore a relative concept. This is why we trial varieties under many different conditions. It’s not easy to find a variety that performs well under all conditions. This is less crucial in the fresh market. The Dutch consumer doesn’t necessarily enjoy what people like to eat in North Africa. Every area has its own eating culture. Crisps are already being more widely consumed globally, and chips even more so. So you’ll need to look for a more globally-suitable variety for them.’ As an example of a sustainable variety, Jansen Klomp picks the Panamera. ‘This is a new potato variety in the traditional sector. It’s very sustainable because it’s highly droughtresistant and needs much less nitrogen fertiliser than other varieties. In order to utilise this sustainable characteristic, we’re focusing specifically on the transfer of knowledge. Growers aren’t always accustomed to using less fertiliser so this requires extra advice. And this isn’t always easy, because we’re not always able to approach growers directly or via partners. Another challenge is to change what farmers have been used to for years. But if we succeed, growers will have a beautiful, large-growth, high-yield variety at lower costs. The variety determines for 70 percent the possibilities, but the results are the outcome of the remaining 30 percent.’ Marc Hoogterp, Van Rijn France: ‘Passion ca areas without plant protection’ Marc Hoogterp, of the French trading company Van Rijn France in Bazemont, slightly west of Paris, tells us that he offers sustainable varieties with a high Phytophthora resistance. As an example, he mentions the Passion from breeder Bretagne Plant in Normandy. ‘The Passion is a firm, early variety that is very attractive. This robust variety can be cultivated in many areas without any crop protection. It can be used for home-fried chips and table potatoes. Under good conditions, we harvest at least 100 tons per hectare. This also suits the organic potato sector very well, 12 Potato World 2016 • number 1 Pagina 11
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