Potato World vision Innovation is essential in a changing world In just about every Dutch city centre, one can buy ‘Flemish Fries’ and in Belgium, the country where chips were invented, the aroma of this delicious treat wafts around every village or town square in the evening. Chips – and by extension the potato – are part of the cultural heritage of the Dutch and the Belgians. Meanwhile, both the Netherlands and Belgium have recently set themselves up as key players in the world market of potato products. By tradition, in Belgium, the cultivation, trade and processing of potatoes has rather been viewed as a Flemish affair. In the Walloon region, the emphasis has been more on corn and sugar beet. The exponential growth of the Belgian potato processing industry, which in 2010, like in the Netherlands and Germany, has reached 3 million tonnes of potatoes – processed into all kinds of potato products – is rather impressive. This also clearly illustrates the economic importance of this small, dynamic and export-oriented sector. Even more impressive is that the potato sector has been able to develop independently, without the structure or support of a European market regulation. Every growing sector is faced with the challenge of consolidating and improving even more. In an ever-changing world, innovation is essential. At processing industry level, the Flemish companies are in the lead as far as the environment, energy management, efficient production methods and product innovation are concerned. I am thinking of the initiative of our Flemish companies to start a research project to reduce acrylamides in potato products. This project received international recognition. To offer our potato growers the opportunity of jumping onto this innovation bandwaggon, the Flemish authorities will help establish the first edition of the Belgian Inno Potato Award. As a fringe activity, at the initiative of the Flemish authorities, the ‘Innovation in the Cultivation of Potatoes’ day was recently organised, whereby the potato chain, the researchers and the local authorities jointly compiled a list for the future priorities for innovation in the potato sector. ● Kris Peeters Prime Minister of the Flemish government PW-ACTUA APH Group delivers largest rotary ridger in the world This year APH Group member Baselier produced a number of unique, large rotary cultivators, made for 8 rows of potatoes on 90 cm, which are also hydraulically foldable. Large scale farming has created demand for a machine with a large working width together with the 90 cm system. Baselier developed a rotary cultivator with a working width of 7.3 meter per machine. The APH Group exported one machine to North Africa and a couple of the large machines were sold in Russia. Besides the rotary cultivator Baselier also developed a ridging hood to mount behind the popular, front mounted KUHN rotary cultivator, to make small ridges in front of the wheels of the tractor of the planter. The use of the redesigned ridging hood will result in an equal planting depth of all rows and therefore an equal harvesting depth, improved capillary moisture supply, far less soil structure damage on places where potatoes are growing, less green potatoes and all together an earlier and stronger crop and a qualitative and quantitative higher yield. 60 years of experience Baselier, based in Steen bergen, the Netherlands, is a well known manufacturer of a complete range of rotary cultivators and haulm toppers for potato and vegetable production. Baselier has almost 60 years of experience on multifunctional machines specified to customer requirements. With the companies Cramer, Koning, Baselier, Dewulf, Bijlsma, Omnivent and Manter, APH Group from Joure, the Netherlands, is a full liner for equipment for potato and vegetables. ● Potato World 2010 • number 4 9 Pagina 8
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