Breeding pioneer Niek Vos pushes the boundaries TRADE AND MARKETING being trialled in Portugal, and in Germany it is sold via home shopping vendors. Moreover, Vos is looking for partners with easy access to the international market to sell seed of the Bionica variety and, later, perhaps of other organic varieties in various countries. Resistant Agria on the shelf In the meantime, breeding continues, because there’s already a resistant Agria type in sight also. ‘All the quality characteristics are similar to those of Agria, with the additional bonus that it’s Phytophthora resistant, too.’ When developing resistant varieties, Vos doesn’t only have his own farm management system in mind. ‘It’s my dream that, one day, all organic and conventional farmers will be able to grow Phytophthoraresistant varieties. The road towards that dream is still very difficult, despite his own personal success. The delay is partly due to the dismissive attitude of supermarket buyers in regard to organic potatoes from this country, is Vos’s opinion. ‘It’s terrible that most of the supermarket buyers completely ignore the available organic varieties. The only thing they’re concerned with is covering their own tracks.’ It would also help if farmers themselves would become more interested in sustainable cultivation, because everyone benefits from disease-resistant crops. To stimulate consumption Niek en Michiel Vos decided to market Bionica under the brandname ‘Niek’s Witte’. toes have a big market share. For example, Bionica has already been successfully started up in Sweden. They now grow 30 hectares of consumption potatoes there. The variety is also popular with allotment gardeners abroad. A great deal is now sold to Belgium where many people still grow their own vegetables. The same applies to Ireland,’ International growth Although the Dutch market is not growing very quickly, thanks to its resistance and specific taste, a lively market has developed here now, Vos thinks. Son Michiel sells the potatoes from the farm and now also has a business relationship with the Van Kampen (VanKa) family business in Hillegom. VanKa packages the Bionica in its own packaging under the brand name ‘Niek’s Witte’. In supermarkets such as Hoogvliet the ‘Niek’s Witte’ is given a special place on the shelves. But as Vos already suggested earlier in the interview, the story has not yet ended. The count is now at 30 hectares, but there’s still room for more. We’re already busy in France, and the UK is also getting enthusiastic for ‘Niek’s Witte’, he outlines the market developments. It’s especially there that Vos foresees a successful future for the Bionica, as the British people have a preference for white-fleshed table potatoes. The variety is also Children are taking over The passionate pioneer in organic breeding still has many plans, but he’s now reached the age of 65 and is slowly starting to leave the finalisation of those plans to his son Michiel and his daughter Liselore. At this moment, Michiel is more focused on sales and marketing and Liselore took over the cultivation part last year. She worked as a veterinary surgeon, but as she now says: ‘the best place for me is on the land. It’s my passion to grow beautiful products and to organise the farm in the best way possible.’ ● Jaap Delleman Leading experts in potato resistance trials Centre of Expertise for plant and soil health research – diagnostics – consultancy www.hlbbv.nl Potato World 2014 • number 3 27 Pagina 26
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