PW-ACTUA Bio-Impuls on the right track It has been three years since the Bio-Impuls Project was started. The principle object of this initiative was to put a stop to the acreage decrease in small-scale, Dutch, organic potato cultivation and to reverse that trend. Recently, all the parties involved in Bio-Impuls came together in Wageningen to review the current situation. It then transpired that the Project was on the right track. In 2004, international regulations stipulated that organic planting stock should also be organically grown. Exemption was only possible in the event of a shortage of planting stock. The Dutch seed potato sector has had to claim exemption on several occasions after a bad Phytophthora year. But a variety that only has Phytophthora resistance is not necessarily suitable for organic cultivation. Such varieties also need to have other characteristics that suit an organic cultivation method, which does not always fit those of conventional growing. There is a need for varieties with fast-growing haulm that require little nitrogen and grow fast within a short period of time, for example. This requires a proper root system and an efficient use of nitrogen. Sector-wide collaboration Professor Edith Lammerts van Bueren (Louis Bolk Institute), researcher/breeder Ronald Hutten, and breeder Christel Engelen (Wageningen University) ensure that BioImpuls is moving in the right direction. They do not carry out the supporting breeding programme by themselves, the collaboration is sectorwide. To achieve this, they work together with Dutch breeding stations including Agrico Bioselect, Den Hartigh, Fobek, HZPC Bonna Terra, Meijer, KWS-Potato, and organic farmer breeders. Introgression breeding and genitor development take place in Wageningen. These include crossing resistances from wild potato varieties with breeding stock, and resistant gene stacking. For the more variety-oriented breeding, Bio-Impuls has found a home with organic potato grower and breeder Niek Vos, among others. The organic breeding programme is based on the very old, Dutch hobby breeder model. Important role for farmer breeders. The professor tells us that there is an important role for the farmer breeders in the programme. It is their task to select the ultimate organic potato from the seedlings allotted to them. The breeding work consists of making parent crossings with resistances and producing clones from which a practical selection can be made. In this third year of breeding, there are now 37 clones available, which will be extensively trialled by the participants in the coming season. An important Bio-Impuls objective is to breed clearly-distinguishable organic varieties, for example by breeding varieties with distinctive colours or tastes. The taste is particularly important, according to those involved in the Project. When such a tasty variety is found, it needs to be followed up by a proper marketing plan. A variety with a powerful image There is one already. It is the tasty organic variety Bionica, bred by Niek Vos, which has been around for some time. Soon, the Bionica will no longer be sold in the shops under its variety name. ‘The Dutch consumer isn’t very impressed by variety names’, says Vos, which is why the Bionica will soon be sold in a special bag with the brand name Nieks Witte. The emphasis is now on the breeder, the personal aspect and the white flesh, which also refers here to its great taste. This name defines more accurately what this variety is all about. It gives the organic variety a powerful image and that is one of the intentions of Bio-Impuls. ● Christel Engelen (l) of Bio-Impuls closely collaborates with the Dutch breeding stations. Potato World 2012 • number 3 11 Pagina 10
Pagina 12Interactieve erelatiemagazine, deze reclamefolder of maandblad is levensecht online geplaatst met Online Touch en bied het online op uw website plaatsen van digi boeken.
Potatoworld 2012/3 Lees publicatie 25Home