TRADE AND MARKETING Wageningen International Potato Course fills a need The participants visit various research stations, trading companies, seed potato growers and mini-tuber producers in the Netherlands. are usually influential ones. We often see them return as the contact in their homeland where it concerns trade, imports, breeders’ rights, quarantine issues and development projects. You could also say that the course also trains people for the position of potato ambassador plus the knowledge about, and confidence in the Dutch system of seed production and certification. Many participants are not able to pay the nies, seed potato growers and supplier companies contribute to the course. Good overview of the Netherlands What does the course offer during these four weeks? Theory and practice follow one another in a balanced way. The teaching staff introduces concepts of variety development, seed production and chain development in the Dutch potato cultivation system and how these can be translated into the various potato chains in the homelands of the participants. In addition, the programme includes presentations, trials and excursions. The Crop and Weed Ecology Group of Wageningen University lays out a demonstration field with seed potatoes in Wageningen every year, for example. With this demonstration field, the Group shows the effects and influences of the quality of seed, ageing, storage conditions, choice of variety, seed conditions, fertilisation, etc. Participants also go for a few days to the Dutch General Inspection Service for Agricultural Seed and Seed Potatoes (NAK) in Emmeloord where they hear about the strict Dutch inspection and quality control services. They also make excursions to various other research stations, trading companies, seed potato growers and mini-tuber producers. Thanks to the openness and hospitality of the potato sector, participants get a good idea of the development of the potato industry in the Netherlands and what this country can mean for the development of potato growing in their homelands. Funding from Grants Programme Experience shows that many participants not only increase their knowledge, they also often better their positions, which costs of over 4,500 euros themselves. For this reason, participants are funded by a Grants Programme of the Ministry of Development Cooperation, or by businesses, NIVAP, foreign governments, NGOs, development programmes and local inspection services, etc. Local refresher courses For all those who have already been to Wageningen, but would like to refresh their knowledge after a few years, Wageningen International is organising refresher courses. Participants do not need to travel to the Netherlands, because Wageningen International gives these courses in their own countries. Refresher courses were held, for example, in Tunisia for people from North Africa and the Middle East, and in Cuba for participants from Latin America. If you are interested, Wageningen University can also organise tailor-made courses about every aspect in the development of the potato. Increasingly, attention is being focused on the development of the complete potato chain – from the field to the mouth – based on good varieties and healthy seed. The Netherlands therefore contributes enormously towards the development of sustainable potato chains all over the world. If you wish for more information please go to our website: www.wi.wur.nl. ● Siert Wiersema Wageningen International Siert.Wiersema@wur.nl Potato World 2009 • number 2 17 Pagina 16
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