Boerenbusiness Analysis
Potato quality no limitation for industry
The potato processing industry shows good work by growing year on year. A lot has also been improved in the technical field. The quality of the chips is guaranteed, while the raw material flow is constantly changing. There is still plenty to do for the coming years.
The 2016/2017 season was memorable for both grower and industry. The growing season caused headaches and varying quality. Flooding, growth cracks and overwashing passed by. The potatoes had to be handled with care. In the end, it turned out that a surplus had even arisen at the end of the season. Thanks to technological progress, French fries factories can monetize almost any potato.
35
ton
Processing continues to increase
The Dutch potato processing industry has shown only growth for almost 10 years. Processing only fell slightly in 2013, as a result of the wet harvest in 2012. Compared to 2006, around 2016 tons more potatoes were processed in 773.500. The sector has grown sharply in the last 3 years, namely by 361.000 tons.
In Belgium, the growth curve is even steeper. Our neighboring country has knocked the Netherlands off the throne. In 2016, 4,414 million tons of potatoes were processed there, compared to 3,888 million tons in the Netherlands. French fries producers have the advantage that demand continues to rise. As a result, price formation has become independent of the raw material price.
Bringing value to everything
Factories use technological progress as their trump card. Since 1965, the Dutch manufacturer Kiremko has been producing machines that wash, peel, cut, dry, bake and freeze potatoes. The Utrecht-based company is active worldwide. "In 2000, the capacity per processing line was around 10 to 15 tons of potatoes per hour. Processing 30 to 35 tons was a barrier," explains innovation manager Eric van Oorschot. "When that psychological barrier was broken, things went fast. 1 line can now produce 30 to 35 tons of end product per hour. You are talking about 2 full cars."
Van Oorschot does not think that growers are fully aware of the developments. "It's not Cosun, where you can look inside the factory as a member. The doors remain closed. You have to understand after the past season. Potatoes with growth cracks enter the factory and come out like chips."
60
procent
Belgian lead
Today, an average production line runs at 60% efficiency. 100 tons of chips are made from 60 tons of potatoes. Residual products go into the rösti or flakes. Belgian factories in particular have arranged production well. They are family businesses, where the owner decides for himself. They are highly efficient and are at the forefront of technology.
According to Van Oorschot, part of the success story is sales. "Ecofrost, Clarebout, Agristo and Mydibel specialize in the very efficient production of bulk chips. In principle, you can fry excellent chips of any quality. We can only control poorly at a low underwater weight. You cannot make a white end product from strongly browning potatoes. "Dutch factories are closely involved in the cultivation, but they can do little to change growth cracks or glass. Belgians can respond well to varying quality."
New innovations on the way
Hyperspectral cameras, which you also find on drones, can now also be found in factories to assess the internal quality of the potatoes. "That way you can sort out glass heads and keep good quality," explains Van Oorschot. "The latest innovation is the 'pulse electric field'. This means that the potatoes are electrocuted and you can cut them better. Smoother fries absorb less fat. In the US this is already being used with the Russet Burbank. In the future, factories will also use control models work. Electricity producers and the chemical industry are already doing that. New experiences are immediately recorded and calculated. Ultimately, the factory with the best model wins."
This article comes from the recently published 'Potato Market, the Analysis 2017'. Click here to receive the magazine.
Niels van der Boom
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