TRADE AND MARKETING PotatoEurope 2013: The next level SmartFarming tests Profytodsd of Emmeloord supplies plant protection chemicals, fertiliser, seed and knowledge for potato cultivation to the agricultural sector of the northern region of the Netherlands. Moreover, the company runs one of the largest spraying contracting firms in the Netherlands and is the distributor of the Mafex disk atomisers and powder applicators. ‘We stand out due to the knowledge and expertise we have of our products in combination with that of the products of our farmers. It’s not only about supplying products, but much more about the way they’re going to be used’, project manager Frans van Egmond explains. ‘With the term “Next Level” you think of the future, which important changes are at hand. For us, this means that we’re thinking of the future. We are part of a consortium of companies and institutes under the name of SmartFarming. SmartFarming intends to investigate how sensors in soil, crops and machinery can contribute to more knowledge about cultivation, crops and soil. With innovative technology it should be possible to see and understand more about the crops. Scale expansion at the growers’ level should also lead to solutions to further improve cultivation. We invest in knowledge and products in the domain of cultivation that lead to more and better growth and quality. A number of important pillars in this process are the products of N-XT fertilisers, the PRP Sol soil improver and the Pireco products. The central theme is healthy growth, whereby we always consider: “What does it bring the grower?”. The yield in the field is extremely important for both the grower and for us.’ Chain requires quality Machine manufacturer Miedema in Winsum offers a total package of state-of-the-art technology for grading, transport, store loading and unloading, soil cultivation and potato planting systems. The company’s vision focuses on sustainability, labour-saving and the cost of ownership for the grower and consumer of the potato as an important source of starch. According to Guido Mangnus, global marketing director of the company, looking ahead requires daring, vision and perseverance. ‘The healthy basis for the next step will always be the quality of the product. Because the potato chain is a long one, it will take a few years before new innovations prove their worth. What do we really know about the potato? Yes, the square-grid sizer, its length, its underwater weight perhaps. Is this enough for the potato chain? My answer is NO. The growers want and must have more information about their product, irrespective of whether they are seed potato growers, consumption potato growers, trade merchants or French-fries manufacturers. The chain can then be better managed. What ‘What we need is information about each individual potato’, says Guido Mangnus. Potato World 2013 • number 2 15 Pagina 14
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