Mainly industrial varieties propagated by growers themselves

The declaration figures for own use at the NAK show that the industrial varieties Agria, Fontane and Innovator are growing the fastest. Geert Staring, general manager of Breeders Trust, speaks of substantial growth in 2016. 'The numbers in the table actually mean, with a multiplication factor of 10, that the area of ​​consumption potatoes from ATR seed potatoes has grown and has increased in recent years. from approximately 5.000 hectares to more than 6.000 hectares.'

In Belgium, a similar development is seen with the Belgian variant Hoevepootgoed. 'The area of ​​farm seed potatoes is also increasing. The area of ​​farm seed potatoes, from which Breeders Trust in Belgium has collected royalties since 2011, has since grown by an average of 15 to 25 percent per year.

100.000 hectares in Belgium
Belgium has maintained the cultivation and processing of Bintje for a long time. In Wallonia, approximately 40 percent of the acreage still consists of this old variety, according to Staring. 'Yet we see that the industry is increasingly asking for the latest varieties with undeniably better properties. The area of ​​licensed varieties has also increased enormously in recent years.'

According to the Breeders Trust director, this has partly to do with commitment. This means accepting that fair compensation must be paid for the use of licensed varieties. However, on the other hand, it also has to do with the growth of a number of popular licensed varieties in combination with the growth of the total consumption area in Belgium. 'Ten years ago, the potato area in Belgium was only 40.000 hectares. Now it is said that 100.000 hectares of potatoes will soon be grown.'

Jan van Hoogen, director of Agrico, expects that the area of ​​ATR seed potatoes will continue to expand every year, just like the consumption area. 'We have mainly seen growth in the sand in Brabant and Limburg (Fontane) in recent years.' To make ATR cultivation possible, trading companies must make starting material available. So they are in fact in control. 'That is correct, but after careful consultation a grower receives seed potatoes from us. In addition, every grower is free to grow free varieties for ATR (Bintje).'

No threat
HZPC is not concerned that the area ATR of industrial varieties is increasing. 'Growers are allowed to produce their own seed potatoes, according to the applicable rules, and we think that's okay,' says HZPC director Gerard Backx. 'These growers have their own reasons for doing this. We cannot and do not want to stop that. Why should we? The rules are described in such a way that this does not pose a threat to seed potato cultivation. It is important that people adhere to the rules. Especially because ATR is not intensively monitored for quarantine diseases. That is why ATR seed potatoes may not be towed over long distances.'

NAK declaration figures for ATR seed potatoes in hectares: