The Potato Valley struggles with visibility

The Potato Valley was founded to strengthen the position of seed potato cultivation in Groningen and Friesland. Now and in the future. Based on that fact, there is collaboration with research institutions, education, business, government and growers join.

De Vries recently heard from a grower that it is so quiet around the Potato Valley. "That is an understandable reaction, but not justified," she says. "Many things are put into action in such a first year and it works quite well. However, most of it is not immediately visible, which makes it difficult."

Project 'Flight to Vitality' can be released
What did become visible on Wednesday is the start of the 'Flight to Vitality' project that HZPC and Averis will be carrying out. This involves a search for suitable laboratory methods to better and early assess the germination capacity of seed potato lots. According to HZPC, this offers opportunities for more control in sales. Financing for the €3 million project was recently secured through, among other things, two €500.000 contributions from the provinces of Friesland and Groningen. BO Akkerbouw is also contributing €200.000. HZPC and Averis themselves guarantee €1,5 and €0,4 million respectively. 

'Umbrella project proposal'
One of the things that TPV carries out that is not yet immediately visible is the preparation of an 'umbrella project proposal'. This means submitting multiple projects at once, so as to have a better chance of approval. "Practical experience shows that it is difficult for individual growers or groups of farmers to submit a thorough proposal and have it approved for financial support," De Vries explains. 

"We cluster several proposals from small (study) groups. This could include running pilots around non-inversion tillage and soil compaction, for example. This complete proposal is now being written and then submitted. That simply takes time. We hope and expect We want to have accomplished many things in this regard next year and then start working on various projects in the 2019 growing season," says De Vries.

better education
De Vries further argued for more and better cooperation with education. "There is a need to deepen knowledge building among young people. There is a great call from the business community. The pilot company in Munnekezijl can play a greater role in this. We are in full consultation to achieve this, but education appears to be resistant. It is easy It is not, but it is promising. As far as I am concerned, this does not reduce the responsibility of the business community. They call for more efforts to deepen knowledge transfer, but can often do more in this regard themselves."

Direction required in salinization approach
Salinization is seen as one of the biggest challenges for the northern seed potato area. Numerous projects have been and are already being implemented in this regard. “That is very nice,” says De Vries. "What we are missing, however, is a bit of direction. Now there is a jungle of projects and research and a huge number of parties are working on it. We expect that direction role from the provinces."

Johannes Kramer, agricultural representative of the province of Friesland, was present in Metslawier and immediately took up the challenge: "If there is such a clear need, then I promise you that we will take care of this. Together with all parties involved, we will clearly define the plans and formulate a method."Henk Staghouwer, Johannes Kramer, Hiske Galema and Tineke de Vries (from left)