Sustainability in 2016 is all about balance TRADE AND MARKETING Sjefke Allefs, Agrico Research: ‘The Phytophthora problem is one of the biggest issues for breeders’ market. What you see is that we’re upsourcing genetic material so that the resistant potato varieties can measure up to the conventionally-grown material. That’s our aim. The organic sector as our springboard for the conventional breeding ‘Our long-term vision is to produce as many potatoes as possible with as little input as possible’, Sjefke Allefs of Agrico Research in Bant explains. ‘Look, many regard organic agriculture as sustainable, but there’s a problem with yields. Plus that it’s a bit of a dogmatic farming method where choices are made about whether or not to use fertiliser and crop protection chemicals. The sustainable agriculture that will eventually emerge won’t be organic, but will be focused on the economic use of fertiliser, crop protection, energy and water. We’re looking for varieties that fit that pattern. The Phytophthora problem is one of the biggest issues for breeders. I’m getting increasingly optimistic as the years go by. I think that we’ll be able to get this worldwide resistance problem under control. The materials we have for getting resistances into varieties and the available methods seem favourable for solving the problem. However, it’ll still take decades before all new varieties have Phytophthora resistance. It’s a gradual development. What we now present at the trade shows are varieties that suit low input crop farming. We can look on that as progress. The Carolus, Alouette and Twinner organic varieties are examples of that. The Twinner in particular is selected entirely on organic principles. We must ultimately cultivate for the work. Phytophthora has been a spearhead with that for years. There are very few customers in the world who aren’t waiting for that. There are countries with a lack of crop protection chemicals and application techniques. You can then use resistances to make major advances, which makes cultivation more sustainable. The Twinner is a very good organically-developed variety and is the first really early consumption potato that’s also resistant. Even if the variety becomes infected, the season is so short that it won’t do any harm.’ Matthijs Kloek, Den Hartigh: ‘The Connect is also doing well in the conventional crop growing sector’ For Matthijs Kloek of Breeding and Seed Potato Trading Company Den Hartigh in Emmeloord the question is an easy one. In his opinion, the Connect variety fits the sustainable picture 100 percent. ‘Firstly, the Connect is a Phytophthora-resistant variety and therefore highly suitable for organic cultivation. The Connect is also doing well in the conventional crop growing sector. The seed is mainly sold as planting stock for export to countries such as Sri Lanka. In spite of the fact that the Phytophthora pressure is high there, conventional crop growers only need to spray a few times per season. The next sustainable characteristic of the Connect is that it hardly needs any nitrogen. Half the amount for comparable table potato varieties is more than enough. Also, the variety needs relatively little water, additional irrigation may only be necessary on light soils. It usually develops an abundance of haulm, which makes the plants able to withstand disease and drought. Another advantage of lots of haulm is perfect ground cover, which prevents weeds from developing. And that completes the list of sustainable aspects’, according to Kloek. Potato World 2016 • number 1 17 Pagina 16
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