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New Zealand, March 24, 2009
The official Closing ceremonies of the 7th World Potato Congress (WPC) at
Christchurch, New Zealand, were highlighted by the presentation of the
triennial Industry Awards. The awards recognize outstanding personal
contribution and leadership, related to development and progress of the
global potato industry.
The awards were presented by World Potato Congress Inc. President and CEO,
Allan Parker, and Awards Committee Chair, Douglas Harley. Four individuals
were presented with symbolic plaques to commemorate the occasion.
The 2009 award recipients are Mr. Ron Gall, New Zealand; Mr Gregg Halverson,
United States; Mr. Hardev Singh Sangha, India; and Mr. Joop N. Stet, The
Netherlands.
Here is a short version of the citations for each of the award recipients.
Ron Gall – New Zealand
Ron Gall has used his knowledge and experience to create a proactive and
effective organisation lead by growers and working for the best interests of
the potato industry in New Zealand.
He is totally committed to the industry in which he works and a very strong
advocate for the industry and growers.
Ron has encouraged the NZ potato industry to become more involved in
international issues, which lead to his being appointed to the WPC
International Advisory Committee and culminated in the World Potato Congress
being held in Christchurch NZ in 2009.
Other initiatives where Ron has played a leadership role include:
The NZ Potato industry R&D programme including collaboration with
Australia;establishment of the Vegetable Research and Innovation Board; and
development of the NZ GAP (Good Agriculture Practice) scheme that provides
third party assurances to buyers (now widely used across the NZ horticulture
industry).
Gregg Halverson - USA
Gregg Halverson is President and CEO of Black Gold, headquartered in Grand
Forks, ND, a company that he founded and built.
The multi-state potato growing company has grown to over 15,000 acres of
potatoes, with ten individual farms in ten states.
Black Gold is known internationally for its adoption of advanced technology
in the area of chip potato production and handling. Under Gregg’s
leadership, Black Gold has received Global and National Supplier Innovation
awards from Frito-Lay and Cavendish Farms in recognition for supplier
innovation and leadership.
In 2002, Black Gold instituted a systematic approach to potato production in
the Peoples Republic of China, where they introduced the country’s first
successful bulk handling and transport system of chip potatoes.
Gregg has been involved in leadership positions on the Research Committee of
the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association as well as the Environmental
Affairs Committee of the National Potato Council. He is presently
Secretary/Treasurer of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association.
Under Gregg’s leadership, Black Gold is honored to be a recipient of the
2009 National Potato Growers “Environmental Stewardship” Award.
Hardev Singh Sangh
Hardev Singh Sangha was among the first, in India, (1960’s) to adopt the
CPRI protocols for seed multiplication and start commercial seed production.
“Seed Plot Technique.” His greatest achievement was establishing Punjab
grown potato seed in most of India’s potato growing states which was earlier
supplied by Himachal Pradesh. Gradually, he expanded his operations and
established the “Lease-land Farming Model” in the Punjab.
In the 1970’s, Hardev Singh Sangha became known as the “Potato King” among
the potato community and in the media. He has been the largest producer of
seed potatoes in Asia for more than 40 years. Now producing over 60,000 tons
of high quality seed potatoes annually under a Limited Generation Seed
Program on an area of 6000 acres, preserving it in self-owned Refrigerated
Storage and supplying it to various states in India. The seed program is
supported by a Tissue Culture Facility & a Plant Pathology Laboratory for
disease testing including ELISA testing for 6 viruses.
Joop N. (Johannes Nicolaas) Stet
J.N. Stet has been one of the most remarkable figures in the European potato
business. As son of a Dutch potato and vegetable grower, he succeeded in
creating a new trade company, one of the few individual private breeding
companies which created some very successful new potato varieties such as
Timate, Donald, Columbus, Bellini and Exquisa .
After his active career in business J.N. Stet assumed responsibility by
taking the lead in European business associations via the presidency of
Europatat, the European Union of the Potato Trade and CELCAA, the European
Liaison Committee for the Agricultural and Agri-Food Trade.
J.N. Stet has been recognized for his career in the potato sector by the
Dutch Queen Beatrix with the title of “knight in the order of Orange Nassau”
in 1998.
Awards Committee Chairman, Doug Harley, noted that written nominations were
submitted for consideration by the committee. Other members of the Awards
Committee are Ms Kimberly Warren, Managing Editor of Spudland Magazine, USA;
Dr. Ben Pieterse, WPC International Advisor, South Africa, and Mr. Terry
Olsen, Chair of the 7th World Potato Congress Management Committee, New
Zealand.
WPC Inc. President Parker indicated that the dedication and enthusiasm of
potato industry participants, spanning a great many years, is quite
outstanding.
 
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