PW-ACTUA after an optimally cleaning machine but also a compact one, because, in the current production line, there was only limited space for such a machine. MH Poskitt also grows French-fry potatoes. These are mainly early varieties, which he delivers directly to the processors. In total, 2,000 tons. International patent applied for ‘All those tons of potatoes must first be cleaned’, tells director/owner Fred Steenvoorden. ‘Our Evo Separator can remove clods, stones and haulm from a flow of produce. This machine is equipped with an Evolution Separator designed by Derek Scott. This is a cleaning unit on which steel and rubber rollers are mounted. The rubber material remoulds itself slightly as a result of which the rollers can easily remove small stones and manure clods from the produce flow. But the small potato tubers are not removed and remain in the product flow. Important in the development of the new product separator was that it should use virtually no water and very little energy. Moreover, the instruction was that the machine should remove 99 percent of tare from the product flow. This was achieved by combining a dry desoiler/haulm separator with an existing wet stone/ clod separator, which made it possible to save enormously on the use of water. The capacity is also very good with a maximum of 50 tons of potatoes per hour.’ Steenvoorden markets the new product separator as a multi-functional machine. The clod/stone belt can be mounted towards two outflow sides and the power box can be placed on the left or the right hand side of the machine. Steenvorden has a patent for this machine in Europe and has also applied for an international patent. ● Bayer Cropscience and Farm Frites enter into Food Chain Partnership Bayer Cropscience and Farm Frites recently entered into a Food Chain Partnership. The purpose of the partnership is to implement sustainable farming methods in the cultivation of potatoes in Belgium and the Netherlands. With this partnership, the companies want to reach the potato grower directly with sustainable practices for their specific cultivation that also have an added value. ‘The potato is a valuable crop for growers in Western Europe and an important raw material for the potato-processing industry, flakes, purée and French fries, for example’, says Leon Boer, Director of Potato Procurement. He works at Farm Frites, a factory that processes 1.3 million tons of potatoes in eight factories every year. ‘So it’s essential for local growers to adopt sustainable production methods. By working together with Bayer, we want to ensure that our growers can continue to meet our high quaality requirements and remain competitive. Through this new initiative, Bayer will share its expertise in the domain of potato cultivation and sustainability. ‘Working on sustainable agriculture is the basis of our business. We help our customers with innovative solutions, proactive stewardship and partnership’, Silke Friebe, Head of Food Chain Management at Bayer Cropscience clarifies. ‘Our core competences are focused on developing and providing integrated solutions for crops that are adapted to the local markets and the individual needs of our customers. The overarching objective is to increase productivity in a sustainable way and to improve the quality of the crops.’ Starting up experimental farms The first step was an inventory and exchange of various measures to increase the sus‘By working together with Bayer, we want to ensure that our growers can continue to meet our high quality requirements and remain competitive’, Leon Boer of Farm Frites says. tainability of the cultivation of potatoes and its associated field activities. For the coming potato season, five experimental farms – three in Belgium and two in the Netherlands – have been selected for supplying potatoes to Farm Frites. The two Dutch farms are also members of the Skylark Foundation [Stichting Veldleeuwerik]. All partners want to link this Food Chain Partnership initiative as much as possible to the methods of Skylark. Meanwhile, there have been various discussions with individual partners to outline the best possible farm management methods for their farms and their individual needs. After analysing the results of the first season, Farm Frites and Bayer want to set out further recommendations and improvements for the coming season. ● Potato World 2015 • number 2 13 Pagina 12
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