TRADE AND MARKETING Modernised Europatat allows companies as members EUROPATAT AND THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP) AFTER 2013 this will also influence the consumption potato market. A considerable section of starch production is expected to be replaced by consumption potatoes. We are also already seeing a noticeable effect of the impending new policy because many countries in Europe have shifted from subsidy payments per crop to subsidy payments per company. As a result of this change, the total area has increased in the most important potato growing European countries in recent years. This has already resulted in a downward effect on prices which will increase even further after 2013 when producers will be receiving even less subsidy. After 2013, the CAP will lead to further increases in potato acreage, according to the Europatat memorandum. The European Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) after 2013 is preoccupying many who are working in agriculture, the potato sector included. It is for this reason the Europatat has been looking into the possible changes regarding the position of the potato in Europe in this new policy. First and foremost, in its memo ‘Position CAP 2013’, Europatat expects considerable market competition for starch potatoes. If the starch potato market comes under pressure as a result of further cuts and also the possible abolition of subsidies, Further expansion area Another effect is that, in terms of percentage, other important arable crops such as sugarbeet will drop even faster than potatoes. This will also provide a further potato acreage expansion, says the Europatat memo. Although seed and consumption potatoes are freely marketable, in their pricing they do, in fact, experience a certain indirect influence from European legislation, which applies in other areas of the agriculture sector. And yet, Europatat is not pessimistic about the industry’s future. The potato sector with its independence of subsidies, has so far succeeded in steadily continuing to grow. This is why the trade organisation is intent on stimulating innovation in the sector, rather than attempting to reduce it. ‘We need to find new varieties, new cultivation and storage methods, packaging techniques, improvements in the control of pests and diseases and so on,’ according to the Europatat spokesman. FRÉDÉRIC ROSSENEU, THE NEW SECRETARY The new organisational structure also brings with it a lot of work. The new Board, committees included, is supported by an easily contactable secretariat, headed by a First Secretary. Romain Cools, from the Belgian Belgapom, has been the First Secretary up to now. Cools has been the face of the European potato trade organisation for fifteen years. He has now been succeeded by his fellow-countryman Frédéric Rosseneu. Rosseneu is a consultant at Freshfel, the European Fresh Produce Association, which has its headquarters in Brussels. He will continue to hold this job and combine it with his new position at Europatat. tions from Brussels. ‘The fact that both national organisations and individual companies can now participate in Europatat contributes to that faster ability to respond’, says the President. ‘Each company has its own specialisation and if problems occur in that area, it can immediately call for help when fast solutions are needed. The important thing now is that companies do actually join Europatat.’ This is why Van Arendonk urgently appeals to the national organisations to inform their own members. ● Leo Hanse Romain Cools: ‘New Articles of Association and new rules, which aim for a modern and more efficient structure for the European trade in seed and consumption potatoes’ , this is how Romain Cools, the resigning secretary, formulated the drastic changes. Potato World 2010 • number 3 5 Pagina 4
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