News Seed potato day
Potato Auction is going to collaborate with HZPC
At the National Seed Potato Day on Thursday 31 January in Emmeloord, the nematode problem was a topic that received all the attention. However, marketing was also touched upon, because Potato Auction announced that it would be collaborating with HZPC.
Dick Hylkema, the director of the Dutch Potato Organization (NAO), kicked off the event by making the sector aware of the fact that it is a sector that is active at a top level. "That top level must be maintained." Hylkema asked the question what the government is doing for the potato sector, while he also states that the work that the government actually does should not be forgotten. "Officials are very important for the export of seed potatoes."
"The question is to what extent the seed potato export fits into the circular vision of Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality)", said Hylkema. "The minister is coming in May 2019 With the concrete elaboration of the agricultural vision and as a sector, we must be alert to this."
nematode problem
To maintain the top level of the seed potato sector, the quality of the seed potatoes is very important. This makes the problem with nematodes even more worrisome and it is therefore not surprising that Delphy has asked Nemacontrol to discuss the problem. Sebastiaan ten Napel (Nemacontrol) mainly discussed problems with Meloidogyne chitwoodi.
Although the vast majority of the 2 to 20 million nematodes that live in 1 square meter of soil are useful, there are as many as 20 that can have a major adverse effect. "M. chitwoodi has only been known since 1980, but is currently causing the biggest problems," says Ten Napel. The concerns are mainly related to the fact that the population is increasing (very) quickly.
When M. chitwoodi is found, a circle of 1 kilometer is drawn around the site. Within that circle, all seed potatoes are tested. In 2018, cultivation was carried out in such a circle on 2.408 plots, while in 2014 there were still 1.100 plots. The number of seed potato plots in the risk circles has therefore doubled in 4 years.
Increase in the number of infections
The above also emerged from Nemacontrol's own research. Of the 1.350 hectares examined in 2017, it appears that 83 hectares were contaminated (6,2%). In 2018 1.550 hectares were examined and 119 hectares were found to be infected (7,7%). The number of infections is therefore increasing. However, it is striking that it often concerns light infections (1 strip).
Ten Napel also notes that the population of M. chitwoodi decreases less sharply in the winter than was first thought. But what measures can then be taken? "There is, among other things, the option to adjust the cultivation plan, but the soil quality is important. On a soil that is in top condition and where a good organic matter content is present, the multiplication and damage of nematodes is less present."
Online marketing
Finally, Jan Anco Wijk, the founder of Potato Auction, discussed the marketing of potatoes. Boerenbusiness interviewed him already earlier about its online platform. The owner did have news to report, because he announced on Seed Potato Day that the platform will be collaborating with trading house HZPC.
"For HZPC, the platform is a way to innovate and offer transparency in the potato trade. In addition, supply and demand are brought together in this way," a spokesperson for HZPC reported.
Anne-Jan Doorn
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