Westmaas 2014: Meeting place for the potato sector

Westmaas 2014: Meeting place for the potato sector
August 03, 2014
The Potato Demo Day is an easily accessible event for the Potato Sector. The programme is implemented at limited costs and in cooperation with participating companies from the sector.

Objective is to provide a forum where all people and companies that are active in the potato sector can get in touch with each other. This attitude and approach have made the Potato Demo Day develop into the biennial meeting place of the potato sector!

Approximately 6,500 people visited the last editions of the Potato Demo Day on the PPO site Westmaas.

Presentations

There are seven lectures to be held during Potato Demo Day.

WALO, Syngenta Crop Protection, Restrain, Van Iperen BV/NCOR, Tolsma Grisnich Group, Wageningen UR and Altic will be present to share their knowledge with you.

10.30 a.m. Dust management
Mr. J. Lodder, WALO

11.15 a.m. Mini-symposium: Smart and economical storage the results of 46 arable farmers in the practice network
Mr. Ir. J. Kamp, Wageningen UR

12.45 p.m. The latest generation of storage systems:‘Big data’ in the storage area
Mr. A. van Hassel, Tolsma Grisnich

01.30 p.m. Syngenta and sustainable potato cultivation
Mr. Ir. J.J. Bouwman, Syngenta Crop Protection

02.15 p.m. Chemical-free storage: Clean storage area, no residues
Mr. D. Garos, Restrain

03.00 p.m. Fertilisation by pellet – the professional practice speaks
Mr. J. Aarnoudse, Van Iperen BV / Mr. Ir. H. Bartlema, NCOR

03.45 p.m. New potato fertilisation tool
Mr. J.T. Malda, Altic

04.30 p.m. Certification of new inspectors

Please note that all presentations will be held in Dutch.
'Clean cultivation will define the future'

The theme for 2014 is 'Clean cultivation will define the future'. This is a highly topical theme, and it is a concern for many companies in the potato sector.

Clean potato cultivation is essential to the entire Dutch potato chain. The Netherlands has a reputation to uphold when it comes to supplying quality products. Dutch seed potatoes are among the best in the world, and the Netherlands has earned its position as market leader.

In order to be able to make good on this promise in the future, it is essential that we remain continually alert to clean working methods. An example of this is the Netherlands' Verordening PA aardappelteelt 2008 (the 2008 potato cultivation regulation imposed by the Dutch Product Board Arable Products). This regulation is the foundation of Dutch potato production.

In addition, hygiene protocols have been established which contribute to responsible production and further processing. It is of course important that the potato sector operate in a socially responsible way.

The sector has a good future if cultivation is clean, and clean cultivation is something that should be stressed to consumers as much as possible. The potato sector works using clean methods, from the plant all the way to the consumer.

This offers guarantees for the future of the sector.