Looking at hectare yield
Belgium does not focus on larger potato acreage
"In the short term, the potato area will stabilize. The focus will be on increasing the hectare yields", Belgapom chairman Romain Cools told the Belgian Agricultural Life. The potato sector in the country is making record after record.
The Belgian potato area reached a record 2017 hectares in 95.000, representing a growth of 4,3% year on year. This is on top of the record acreage in 2016. At 52,6 tons per hectare, the average yield was 21% above the level of 2016. This fact, coupled with good yields elsewhere in the EU-5, is mentioned by Cools as the main cause of the low potato prices. "The quality of the potatoes in storage is good," he tells Farm life.
Success story
"We must not forget that contract prices have increased sharply in recent years. The free market had high peaks last season. A year like this sometimes passes," says Cools. He is undiminished positive about the export opportunities for Belgian fries: "I am approached abroad about the Belgian success story. In the professional sector, Belgian fries are known as competitive, present everywhere and growing strongly. Our own brand name 'Belgian fries' is not yet sufficiently known to foreign consumers. We see great opportunities for this in Southeast Asia."
The growing potato cultivation will not last indefinitely, Cools thinks. "Growth will come to an end sooner rather than later. Moreover, stricter supervision is given to a cultivation rotation of at least 1 in 3. The FASFC (Federal Agency for the Safety of Food) has indicated that it will check this more closely. "Nematode problems and soil fatigue are justified. We have to take care of the soil optimally in order to achieve higher yields per hectare. New varieties also have potential; breeding techniques should help with this. Potato production and processing is increasing worldwide. This will increase competition in the long term."
Resistance to Phytophthora
New techniques, such as the use of satellite images, should help to increase the yield. The web tool is for this 'WatchITgrow' developed. For example, the hectare yield must be increased by 10%. The research into a phytophthora-resistant Bintje (Bintje Plus) is also ongoing. The aim is to implement 4 resistance genes in Bintje. According to the Belgapom man, the development of this is difficult. Even when cisgenesis is applied. The evaluation will take place shortly.
The Bintje variety lost acreage in 2017 for the third year in a row. Still, Cools does not think that Bintje Plus is pulling a dead horse. "Bintje has had quality problems 2 years in a row. The variety is very sensitive to weather. I therefore expect that the acreage will again take a hit this year. However, Bintje will not disappear quickly; French fries makers swear by it. You can taste the taste of Bintje. Also producers of potato flakes and croquettes swear by the variety."
Threats
This year the sprout inhibitor CIPC, with the active ingredient chlorpropham, will be reassessed. "Should these disappear in the short term, then we will have a problem. That is a threat to the sector," says Cools. "Comparable alternatives are not widely available. A lot of practical research is also required. Belgapom has started the first project for this."
"Another threat is Brexit. The United Kingdom is our third largest buyer. If we don't reach an agreement, we could end up with WTO import tariffs in the worst-case scenario and we will be out of competition. This means drama for our sector. It is different from the Russia boycott. The sector has diversified and can export to 150 countries," said Cools.
Exchange rates and protectionism
Cools says that exchange rates or protectionist measures can also play tricks in other countries. "In South America, our companies are accused of dumping practices. The authorities are comparing the margin with our cheaper lines. That is unfair. Fortunately, we were able to convince the European Commission that something is going wrong. There is a lawsuit in Brazil and a new procedure in Colombia That costs family businesses hundreds of thousands of euros, but the sector continues to focus on export to as many countries as possible."
Niels van der Boom
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