Potato World vision Greed, arrogance and fear During the meeting for the Dutch potato sector, the Potato Demonstration Day of 22 August 2012, the potato futures market reached it highest level of the season yet: €24.50. Especially on a day when the entire sector meets each other, you notice that such a price development arouses strong emotions, in particular among the free potato growers. Because the expectations of high potato prices are a wonderful opportunity for the growers of free potatoes. But an opportunity that must be seized with both hands. And that can sometimes go wrong. When prices go up, we can easily become greedy. We want more, more and more, because the vessel is never full. And if things don’t exactly go the way we had expected, there is a second trap: arrogance. It’s loudly proclaimed or copiously written that this is only temporary. Not long, and the market will change and we’ll get even more money for our potatoes. And yet we all know that the market is unpredictable. When the expected recovery doesn’t materialise and prices drop even more, against all expectations, we run the risk of becoming gripped by fear. And as we all know so well: fear is a bad advisor. This is cold comfort: the emotions mentioned above are not only a threat to the free potato grower. The shareholder recognises that fear as well, and the real-estate sector. The excitement of rising prices gives us all a kick whilst the worry of a falling market may give us sleepless nights. Of course, these emotions are also familiar to me as a pool manager. But I think, it’s not as bad for me as for the average free potato grower. They may be just that little bit too involved in the sale of their own potatoes. Moreover, the pool manager has to give an account of his work to the participants at the end of the season. An incentive to allow common sense to prevail above the emotions of greed, arrogance and fear. Sjaak Ermers Director, Eriva Plantum wants to maintain easy access to organic planting stock. PW-ACTUA Patent and breeders’ rights take a step forward Recently, a big step forward was made to change the imbalance in the patent and breeders’ rights, according to breeders’ organisation Plantum in Gouda. This is partly thanks to Carlo Trojan, chairman of the breeders’ rights committee and former secretary-general of the European Commission. Trojan has published an extensive report that was drawn up on the basis of a number of questions and motions of the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament. The issue at stake was to find a solution for obstructive patents. It’s Trojan’s view that an amendment of the law can contribute to a solution and include full breeders’ exemption. He expects a lot of good to come from a code of business conduct among companies for granting licences without obligations. At the same time, those involved can work on solutions in the domain of rules and regulations. In the report, Trojan calls for the creation of a wide base of support for this plan. Acceptance is needed both nationally and internationally. Changes of the Biotech guideline require in-depth and time-consuming discussions at European level. This is why Plantum regards Trojan’s report as backing its position. Something has to change in respect of the patent system, according to the contentious breeders’ club. Happy with recognition Plantum is happy about the recognition of the problem they tabled in 2009 “to find a solution to guarantee plant breeders easy access to organic planting stock in the sense of the breeders’ rights innovation model without undermining the patent right in its entirety”. According to the breeder’s organisation, Trojan’s analysis shows a good understanding of the problems, although Plantum does not completely subscribe to all the recommendations. ● Potato World 2012 • number 4 9 Pagina 8
Pagina 10Heeft u een maandblad, digi-magazine of e-artikelen? Gebruik Online Touch: rapport digitaal bladerbaar op uw website plaatsen.
Potatoworld 2012/4 Lees publicatie 26Home