Potato World vision Buyers determine label The new EU regulation, which regulates the inspection of agricultural produce including seed potatoes, is slowly taking on shape. It is clear that Brussels wishes to harmonise inspection requirements and that producers will be allowed to carry out part of the inspections themselves. Reactions from the sector are divided. There are growers and trading companies that are very eager to start inspecting themselves and to save costs. Others plead for the continuation of a collective inspection system that is independent and efficient. Admittedly, the current tariff structure of the Dutch inspection service, the NAK has a few collective traits. Everyone pays towards the continuation of the inspection scheme and the NAK works with prices per unit. Some growers profit from this, others pay towards the time that the NAK spends on fellowfarmers. Growers who have large lots of seed certified pay the same per ton as a fellow-farmer who asks the inspector to come over for a small lot, and the inspector’s travelling times vary dramatically among the different cultivation areas. In times in which the sense of collectivism is on its way out, this sometimes leads to discontent. And understandably so, the current NAK tariff structure doesn’t really stimulate the farmer to work on efficient farm management. To meet the wishes of some of the growers, the NAK is developing a new tariff system in which costs are paid where they are incurred. This won’t change the fact that growers and trading companies will start carrying out inspections by themselves. That this will be at the expense of the efficiency of collective inspections is something we’ll have to accept. More important is that we make sure that Dutch seed will continue to be distinctive when the EU regulations prescribe uniform inspections for European seed potatoes. The market will definitely demand this distinction. This could be accomplished with the label from a collective plus system, but also with the label from a trading company. The buyers will ultimately determine which label they wish to see on their bags. Eric Casteleijn Managing director NAK Wifo Anema’s director, Wytze Anema sitting in the middle, shows fellow APH Group directors round at the renewed factory. PW-ACTUA Butter Group takes over Wijnia The Butter Group has taken over Wijnia Transport GmbH in Gröningen in the East-German federal state Sachsen Anhalt from founder Stoffer Wijnia. Like the Butter Group Wijnia Transport GmbH is specialised in bulk transport of agricultural products. “We are very happy with this development because Wijnia Transport GmbH fits very well into our network. The takeover enables us to further consolidate our position in Northern Europe”, director Cees Butter says. Wijnia Transport GmbH is headquartered in the middle of an extensive agricultural area where Butter Group already carries out many transports. Geographically speaking, Gröningen is an ideal hub close to important north/ south and east/west links. With this take-over the Butter Group expands to a company of 265 lorries and 410 trailers in all, with branches in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Hungary and Great-Britain. The Butter Group employs 450 people fulltime. ● New production hall Wifo WIFO Anema BV from Ferwert, in the North of Holland, is currently building a new production hall of 2.700 m2. The hall is situated directly behind the current company buildings and will be used for the new activity of the company; the production of a complete line of planters for potatoes and onions. WIFO recently took over the planter activities from the German company Cramer and the Dutch company Koning and therefore became a member of the APH Group. Because of the new activity, WIFO has also hired a number of new employees. In total there are about 35 people working for WIFO in Ferwert. ● Potato World 2013 • number 2 9 Pagina 8
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