Nieuws over trends in landbouw en voedsel uit Europa

A team of scientists from The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) and The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) have developed a new method to accelerate isolation of plant disease resistance genes and - using their new method - a brand new source of blight resistance genes in Solanum americanum, a wild relative of the potato.

Avebe and Groningen University are jointly looking into the possibility of housing the Avebe Innovation Centre at the Zernike Campus in the city of Groningen.

Delegates of AHDB Potatoes first ever Next Generation Programme overwhelmingly voted McCain Foods as their ‘Best Industry Host’, presenting the award at their final session at AHDB Headquarters, Stoneleigh Park, last month.

KWS is selling its conventional seed potato business to Stet Holland B.V. An agreement to that effect was signed yesterday. The transaction is expected to be completed by mid-2016.

Elveden Farms, a West Suffolk estate is set to become a Regional Research & Demonstration Hub for potato growers and suppliers, thanks to funding from the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative.

Europatat and Freshfel Europe will jointly celebrate their first common annual meeting on 2 June 2016 in Brussels.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 151.0 points in March 2016, up 1.0 percent from February, but still 12.0 percent below its March 2015 level. A sharp increase in sugar prices and higher oil prices more than offset a drop of the price of dairy products.

Dutch Potato Company Agrico was awarded the Ambassadors’ Prize 2016 for its project in Kenya that aims to establish a profitable potato chain for all stakeholders, including 12,500 small-scale farms.

McCain Foods (United Kingdom) has admitted breaching health and safety regulations after a worker nearly lost an arm in an industrial accident at the McCain Foods Whittlesey plant in August 2014

Research to develop potatoes with sustainable resistance against phytophthora via genetic modification with genes from wild potatoes and good resistance management ended with the publication of the scientific results. The approach resulted in potato plants which require 80% less chemical control.

Tong engineering announces the expansion of its range of vegetable processing equipment through a partnership with Netherlands-based food processing equipment manufacturer, Marcelissen.

Member of the Provincial Executive Tjisse Stelpstra opened Tuesday Avebe's new ‘Inline Protastar’ factory in Gasselternijveen.

The remarkable growth of the Belgian potato-processing sector in the past few decades has continued in 2015.

“Harnessing the power of leading bloggers and vloggers, as well as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube channels will enable us [AHDB Potatoes] to reach more consumers and engage with them on a more regular and impactful basis. As research shows, this is clearly the way forward.”

McCain Foods Limited and TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P. have announced that they have agreed terms for the sale of a majority stake in Van Geloven B.V. to McCain

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 150.2 points in February 2016, nearly unchanged from January, but 25.6 points (14.5 percent) below February 2015.

In the United Kingdom, AHDB Potatoes has announced that it is searching for the first farmer host for its new Scottish Strategic Potato (SPot) Farm.

In response to market demand, ILAPAK has enlarged its offering beyond its core flow wrapping and bagging capabilities to provide turn-key solutions that span feeding through to final packaging.